KUCHING: Malaysia will host the Consortium of Institutes on Family in the Asian Region (CIFA) Regional Symposium for the first time this November, as concerns grow over rising mental health challenges across the region.

The CIFA Regional Symposium 2026 will take place from Nov 18 to 20 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, bringing together more than 500 delegates from across the Asia Pacific.

The event comes amid increasing pressure on families, with rising cases of anxiety, loneliness and digital dependency among young people reported across Southeast Asia.

In Malaysia, mental health concerns have also intensified. Official data shows that suicide cases rose to more than 1,000 in recent years, reflecting a broader need for early intervention, stronger support systems and reduced stigma around mental wellbeing.

CIFA platform to drive regional action

Co-organised by the National Coalition for Mental Wellbeing (NCMW) Malaysia and CIFA Hong Kong, the symposium aims to move beyond awareness towards practical, coordinated solutions.

Held under the theme “Building Bridges: Mental Health and Resilience Across Generations in the AI Era”, discussions will focus on strengthening resilience among children, adolescents and parents in an increasingly digital environment.

Key areas include improving access to affordable mental health services, expanding community-based support, and exploring financial assistance mechanisms, insurance coverage and workplace protections.

Kuching chosen as host city

Kuching’s selection underscores Sarawak’s growing role as a hub for business events that prioritise long-term social impact alongside economic value.

Kuching South mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng said hosting the CIFA symposium reflects the city’s commitment to inclusive development and community wellbeing.

“Addressing mental health stigma and strengthening suicide prevention must remain key priorities through education, open dialogue and compassionate community responses,” he said.

Call for multi-stakeholder collaboration

CIFA Regional Symposium 2026 co-chair Siti Subaidah Mustaffa said meaningful progress will require collaboration across sectors.

“Policymakers, researchers, corporate partners and communities must work together to shape policies, invest in mental health and create environments where families are supported to build resilience,” she said.

Turning dialogue into real outcomes

Business Events Sarawak acting chief executive officer Jason Tan Chin Foo said the symposium highlights the importance of regional cooperation in addressing mental health and family-related challenges.

He noted that Sarawak offers a platform where discussions can be translated into actionable outcomes aligned with broader development priorities, including social wellbeing and human capital development.

Focus on resilience in a digital era

At the soft launch, speakers highlighted how resilience is shaped by early life experiences and parental influence, as well as the growing impact of digital platforms on emotional wellbeing.

They noted that while technology presents challenges, it also offers opportunities for support and connection, underscoring the need to bridge generational gaps in communication and coping strategies.

The CIFA Regional Symposium 2026 is part of a series of regional engagements and biennial Asian Family Summits, with additional pre-event programmes planned ahead of November. – NMH

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Sarawak is intensifying its preparations for APRC 2028, a regional platform centred on respiratory health, by fostering stronger collaboration between government, academia and industry.

At a recent high-level engagement in Kuching, stakeholders came together to align efforts in support of the upcoming event, which is expected to spotlight pressing public health challenges, including lung disease and tuberculosis, while strengthening regional cooperation. The session reflects Sarawak’s broader ambition—not only to host a successful APRC 2028, but to leverage it as a catalyst for long-term healthcare capacity building.

Held at the office of Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Dr. Sim Kui Hian, the meeting brought together representatives from medical institutions, higher education bodies and industry partners, highlighting a unified approach to addressing lung disease and tuberculosis through integrated strategies.

Sarawak Aligns Healthcare and Talent Development for APRC 2028

Central to the discussions was the need to strengthen expertise and capabilities in respiratory health, particularly in tackling tuberculosis, which remains a significant public health concern across the region.

Sarawak has been steadily advancing its healthcare ecosystem, with increasing emphasis on training, research and cross-sector collaboration. In the lead-up to APRC 2028, efforts are being made to ensure that healthcare professionals, researchers and support systems are equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to address evolving challenges in lung health.

This includes closer collaboration between universities, training institutions and healthcare providers to develop talent pipelines that are both specialised and responsive to real-world needs.

Human Impact: Strengthening Communities Through Better Care

Beyond institutional collaboration, the focus on lung health and tuberculosis carries a deeply human dimension.

For patients and communities, improved awareness, early detection and better access to care can significantly enhance quality of life and reduce disease burden. Initiatives linked to APRC 2028 are expected to play a role in amplifying public health education, while also encouraging more proactive health-seeking behaviours.

For healthcare practitioners, the platform offers opportunities to exchange knowledge, share best practices and strengthen regional networks—ultimately improving standards of care.

These efforts collectively underscore a people-first approach, where healthcare outcomes are not just measured in statistics, but in lives improved and communities strengthened.

Building a Lasting Public Health Legacy

As Sarawak prepares for APRC 2028, the focus extends beyond hosting responsibilities to building a sustainable and resilient healthcare ecosystem.

The engagement highlights how strategic collaboration can drive meaningful progress—bringing together policy direction, academic expertise and industry innovation to tackle complex health challenges.

By placing lung health and tuberculosis at the centre of its efforts, Sarawak is not only contributing to regional dialogue, but also reinforcing its commitment to public health advancement.

In doing so, APRC 2028 is set to become more than just a regional event—it represents an opportunity to create lasting impact, positioning Sarawak as a leader in collaborative healthcare solutions. – NMH

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KUALA LUMPUR, 18 Mac — Vietnam mencatat satu perkembangan penting dalam usaha membendung penyakit tangan, kaki dan mulut (HFMD) apabila meluluskan penggunaan vaksin HFMD pertama di negara itu.

Vaksin tersebut, ENVACGEN®, dibangunkan oleh Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp (MVC) dari Taiwan, telah menerima kelulusan pemasaran daripada Pentadbiran Dadah Vietnam. Pengedaran vaksin ini akan dikendalikan oleh Substipharm Biologics.

Kelulusan ini bukan sahaja signifikan bagi Vietnam, malah dilihat sebagai langkah awal ke arah pendekatan pencegahan yang lebih menyeluruh di rantau Asia Tenggara, khususnya dalam menangani jangkitan EV71 yang boleh menyebabkan komplikasi serius dalam kalangan kanak-kanak.

Cabaran kesihatan yang berterusan di rantau ini

HFMD kekal sebagai penyakit endemik di banyak negara Asia Tenggara, dengan wabak berulang yang memberi kesan besar kepada kanak-kanak kecil serta sistem kesihatan awam.

Di Vietnam, sekitar 180,000 kes dan 31 kematian direkodkan pada tahun 2023. Situasi bertambah membimbangkan pada 2025 apabila kes meningkat kepada lebih 107,000 — peningkatan hampir 29% berbanding tahun sebelumnya.

Dengan lebih 1.3 juta kelahiran setiap tahun, keperluan terhadap langkah pencegahan seperti vaksin HFMD menjadi semakin mendesak.

Keberkesanan tinggi dan perlindungan awal

ENVACGEN® menunjukkan prestasi klinikal yang memberangsangkan, dengan kadar keberkesanan dilaporkan sehingga 100% dalam tempoh pemantauan, tanpa kes jangkitan direkodkan dalam kalangan penerima vaksin.

Vaksin ini boleh diberikan kepada bayi seawal usia dua bulan dan mampu memberikan perlindungan jangka panjang melebihi lima tahun.

MVC juga menguasai lebih 97% pasaran vaksin EV71 di Taiwan, sekali gus mencerminkan rekod prestasi yang kukuh.

Pengembangan vaksin HFMD ke seluruh Asia Tenggara

Kelulusan di Vietnam dijangka menjadi pemangkin kepada peluasan vaksin HFMD ke negara-negara lain di rantau ini.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif MVC, Leo Lee, menyifatkan pencapaian ini sebagai satu “titik penting” dalam strategi pengembangan global syarikat, dengan kapasiti pengeluaran kini sedang ditingkatkan bagi memenuhi permintaan serantau.

Sementara itu, Substipharm Biologics akan memanfaatkan rangkaian serantaunya untuk mempercepatkan pengedaran serta kerjasama dengan pihak berkuasa kesihatan.

Implikasi kepada Malaysia dan ASEAN

Langkah Vietnam memperkenalkan vaksin HFMD berpotensi mempengaruhi negara jiran, termasuk Malaysia, untuk menilai semula pendekatan sedia ada dalam menangani HFMD.

Dalam usaha memperkukuh daya tahan sistem kesihatan dan kesiapsiagaan menghadapi wabak, strategi berasaskan vaksin dijangka memainkan peranan yang semakin penting di rantau ASEAN.

Kelulusan ini bukan sahaja menangani keperluan kesihatan semasa, malah mencerminkan peralihan ke arah pendekatan penjagaan kesihatan yang lebih proaktif dan berfokus kepada pencegahan. – NMH

The post Vaksin HFMD: Vietnam Luluskan Suntikan Pertama Tangani EV71 dalam Kalangan Kanak-Kanak first appeared on NMH.

KUALA LUMPUR, 18 March — Vietnam has approved its first HFMD vaccine, marking a significant breakthrough in the fight against hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) and signalling a broader shift towards preventive healthcare strategies across Southeast Asia.

The vaccine, ENVACGEN®, developed by Taiwan-based Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp (MVC), received marketing authorisation from Vietnam’s Drug Administration, with Substipharm Biologics leading its distribution in the country.

The move positions Vietnam at the forefront of regional efforts to address EV71, a key virus responsible for severe HFMD complications among young children.

A long-standing regional health challenge

HFMD remains endemic across Southeast Asia, with recurring outbreaks affecting millions of children and placing sustained pressure on public healthcare systems.

Vietnam alone recorded approximately 180,000 cases and 31 deaths in 2023. In 2025, infections surged again to more than 107,000 cases — a 28.9% increase compared to the previous year.

With over 1.3 million births annually, the introduction of an HFMD vaccine could play a critical role in reducing severe infections, hospitalisations and fatalities.

High efficacy and early protection

ENVACGEN® has demonstrated strong clinical performance, with efficacy reported at up to 100% during follow-up periods, and no infections observed among vaccinated individuals in trials.

The vaccine can be administered to infants as young as two months old and provides long-term immunity lasting more than five years.

MVC currently holds over 97% market share for EV71 vaccines in Taiwan, underscoring its established track record in this space.

HFMD vaccine expansion across Southeast Asia

The Vietnam approval is expected to serve as a springboard for wider regional expansion, as demand grows for more effective HFMD prevention measures.

MVC CEO Leo Lee described the approval as a “pivotal milestone”, adding that the company is scaling up production capacity to meet anticipated demand across Southeast Asia.

Substipharm Biologics, which operates in over 100 countries, will leverage its regional presence to accelerate distribution and engagement with healthcare authorities.

Its CEO, Fabrice Baschiera, highlighted the urgency of addressing recurrent outbreaks, noting that EV71 has remained a persistent threat to child health in Vietnam.

Implications for Malaysia and the region

The introduction of an HFMD vaccine in Vietnam may influence neighbouring countries, including Malaysia, to reassess their approach to HFMD prevention.

As ASEAN nations strengthen healthcare resilience and pandemic preparedness, vaccine-led strategies are expected to play an increasingly central role.

The approval of ENVACGEN® not only addresses an immediate public health need but also signals a broader regional shift towards proactive disease prevention. – NMH

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Kuala Lumpur, May 29 – “Innovation is the ability to see change as an opportunity, not a threat.” With this quote from Steve Jobs, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Chairman of MATRADE, set the tone for Malaysia’s most ambitious move yet to lead in regional healthcare.

Speaking at the International Healthcare Week (IHW) 2025 Media Engagement and Strategic Partners Networking Session held at MITEC, the Chairman unveiled what is set to be the largest integrated healthcare trade event in Southeast Asia, uniting five international healthcare exhibitions under one roof.

“This is not just another industry event. It’s the beginning of a journey that will redefine healthcare excellence in our region,” said Reezal.

Slated for July 16–18 at MITEC, IHW 2025 will feature over 900 exhibitors and expects to draw more than 21,000 healthcare professionals from over 50 countries. The event is spearheaded by global exhibition leader Informa Markets, with strong strategic backing from MATRADE, Malaysia’s trade promotion agency.

A Unified Healthcare Ecosystem

For the first time, Malaysia will host all five key healthcare trade shows in one venue:

• CPHI South East Asia (pharmaceutical supply chain)
• WHX Kuala Lumpur (medical devices and hospital services)
• WHX Labs (clinical lab innovations)
• Medtech Southeast Asia (medical device manufacturing)
• HIMSS APAC Conference (digital health, AI, equitable care)

“This unified format is designed to maximise learning, collaboration and deal-making, giving participants a one-stop experience to explore innovations across the entire healthcare value chain,” said Rungphech Chitanuwat, Regional Portfolio Director – ASEAN, Informa Markets.

Malaysia’s Healthcare Rise

Malaysia’s medical device market is growing at 8.2% annually, projected to reach RM15.4 billion by 2028, outpacing regional averages. In 2024, the country recorded RM37.03 billion in medical device exports – a 31.6% increase from the previous year. Pharmaceutical exports also saw a 4% uptick, reaching RM3.03 billion.

“Behind these numbers are innovations that improve lives and strengthen healthcare systems,” said Reezal. “This event will not only spotlight our capabilities, but elevate our role as a strategic healthcare hub in ASEAN.”

Regional Impact and Trade Resilience

As ASEAN Chair 2025, Malaysia is using platforms like IHW to address regional priorities – from digital health integration and non-communicable disease management to supply chain resilience and sustainable financing.

“With global uncertainties, strategic market and product diversification are no longer optional – they are essential,” said the Chairman, adding that Malaysia is determined to remain agile and resilient amid shifting global trade realities.

More Than Business – A Human Story

“The healthcare industry is not just about economic growth; it is about human potential,” he stressed. “It is about ensuring that a child in a remote village has the same chance at health as one born in a major city.”

With that, the Chairman called on industry players to seize this moment – not just to sell, but to shape the future of healthcare in ASEAN and beyond. – NMH

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This is the highest rate of encryption in the past three years and a significant increase from the 61% of healthcare organizations that reported having their data encrypted last year.

In addition, only 24% of healthcare organizations were able to disrupt a ransomware attack before the attackers encrypted their data—down from 34% in 2022; this is the lowest rate of disruption reported by the sector over the past three years.

“To me, the percentage of organizations that successfully stop an attack before encryption is a strong indicator of security maturity. For the healthcare sector, however, this number is quite low—only 24%. What’s more, this number is declining, which suggests the sector is actively losing ground against cyberattackers and is increasingly unable to detect and stop an attack in progress.

“Part of the problem is that ransomware attacks continue to grow in sophistication, and the attackers are speeding up their attack timelines. In the latest Active Adversary Report for Tech Leaders, we found that the median time from the start of a ransomware attack to detection was only five days. We also found that 90% of ransomware attacks took place after regular business hours.

“The ransomware threat has simply become too complex for most companies to go at it alone. All organizations, especially those in healthcare, need to modernize their defensive approach to cybercrime, moving from being solely preventative to actively monitoring and investigating alerts 24/7 and securing outside help in the form of services like managed detection and response (MDR),” said Chester Wisniewski, director, field CTO, Sophos.

Additional key findings from the report include:

• In 37% of ransomware attacks where data was successfully encrypted, data was also stolen, suggesting a rise in the “double dip” method
• Healthcare organizations are now taking longer to recover, with 47% recovering in a week, compared to 54% last year
• The overall number of ransomware attacks against healthcare organizations surveyed declined from 66% in 2022 to 60% this year
• Compromised credentials were the number one root cause of ransomware attacks against healthcare organizations, followed by exploits
• The number of healthcare organizations surveyed that paid ransom payments declined from 61% last year to 42% this year. This is lower than the cross-sector average of 46%.

Healthcare Always A Target

“In 2016, the Red Cross Hospital of Córdoba in Spain suffered a ransomware attack that reached servers and encrypted hundreds of files, medical records and other important patient information. It was a major disruption to our operations and interfered with our ability to care for our patients. The stakes are high in ransomware attacks against healthcare organizations—and attackers know that—meaning we’ll always be a target. After this ransomware attack, we worked hard with Tekpyme to bolster our defenses, and now we have reduced our incident response time by 80%.

“I think the industry as a whole is making improvements, but there is still work to do, because of the constantly changing nature of cybercrime. Hopefully healthcare organizations can leverage the help that is available from security vendors such as Sophos to prevent a very real ‘threat to life’ if systems go offline due to a ransomware attack,” said José Antonio Alcaraz Pérez, head of information systems and communications at Cruz Red Andalusia in Spain.

“Cyberspace today is ripe with technically sophisticated actors looking for vulnerabilities to exploit. What all this translates to is a multidimensional cyberthreat of actors who have the tools to paralyze entire hospitals. Partnering with the private sector is critical to our mission. The information [they] share has real-world impacts and can save real businesses and real lives,” said Christopher Wray, FBI Director.

The State of Ransomware 2023 survey polled 3,000 IT/cybersecurity leaders in organizations with between 100 and 5,000 employees, including 233 from the healthcare sector, across 14 countries in the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific. – NMH

Also Read:-

Selangor Sultan Urged State Govt To Come Up With Long-term Plan On Food Security

New Source Of Green Energy Taking Shape In Japan, Deep Beneath The Ocean

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Thousands of people with prior federal convictions may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities, according to Biden, and his executive action would alleviate such “collateral” consequences.

Nearly 40 states in the United States have legalised marijuana in some form, but it is still illegal in some states and at the federal level. Reclassification would be a first step toward wider legalisation, which is supported by a majority of Americans, and would bring about significant changes for businesses and law enforcement, affecting millions.

Biden said thousands of people with prior federal convictions could be denied employment, housing or educational opportunities and his executive action would relieve such “collateral” consequences.

Nearly 40 U.S. states have legalized marijuana use in some form, but it remains completely illegal in some states and at the federal level. Reclassification would be a first step toward wider legalization, a move backed by a majority of Americans, and usher in sweeping changes for companies and law enforcement and impact millions.

The president’s decision fulfills a campaign promise and is likely to please members in his left-leaning political base ahead of the November midterm elections in which the president’s fellow Democrats are defending control of the House of Representatives and Senate.

“Too many lives have been upended because of our failed approach to marijuana. It’s time that we right these wrongs,” Biden said.

He urged state governors to follow suit.

“Just as no one should be in a federal prison solely due to the possession of marijuana, no one should be in a local jail or state prison for that reason, either,” Biden said.

A senior administration official said more than 6500 people with prior federal convictions could be affected by the pardons.

Shares of cannabis growers and sellers surged following Biden’s comments, with Tilray Brands (TLRY.O) and Canopy Growth (WEED.TO) both jumping more than 20%.

Supporters welcomed the move and its impact on racial imbalances in the U.S. justice system.

“The United States will never justly legalize marijuana until it reckons with the outdated policies that equated thousands of young Black men with hardened drug pushers,” said Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network civil rights group.

“They were thrown behind bars for years on end for simple possession, a non-violent offense, for a substance that red states and blue states are now legalizing at a furious clip.”

Some Republicans, who U.S. voters prefer over Democrats for addressing crime-related policies, criticized it.

“In the midst of a crime wave and on the brink of a recession, Joe Biden is giving blanket pardons to drug offenders— many of whom pled down from more serious charges,” Republican Senator Tom Cotton said on Twitter. “This is a desperate attempt to distract from failed leadership.”

The Road Ahead

The results of a classification review could have wide ramifications. At present, the drug falls under the same classification as heroin and LSD and is in a higher classification than fentanyl and methamphetamine, the president said.

If marijuana classification were to ease at the federal level, that could allow major stock exchanges to list businesses that are in the cannabis trade, and potentially allow foreign companies to begin selling their products in the United States.

While many states have legalized the medical or recreational use of cannabis, its illegal status under U.S. federal law has forced most major banks to deny their services to cannabis-related businesses.

The issue has forced U.S. marijuana companies to trade their shares over the counter or by listing in Canada, with the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange prohibited from listing them.

The president’s action drew praise from some members of Congress and from the industry.

“The Progressive Caucus applauds this action by President Biden today to advance criminal and racial justice,” said Representative Pramila Jayapal, who chairs a group of left-leaning lawmakers, in a statement.

“This represents a major step in righting the wrongs of the past and amending policies that have negatively impacted so many,” said Khari Edwards, head of corporate social responsibility at Ayr Wellness Inc , one of the top U.S. cannabis retailers.

Biden said he had directed Attorney General Merrick Garland to develop an “administrative process” to issue certificates of pardon to those who are eligible.

“The Justice Department will expeditiously administer the President’s proclamation, which pardons individuals who engaged in simple possession of marijuana, restoring political, civil, and other rights to those convicted of that offense,” the department said in a statement.

Biden said certain rules needed to stay in place even as regulations around the country loosened.

“Finally, even as federal and state regulation of marijuana changes, important limitations on trafficking, marketing, and under-age sales should stay in place,” Biden said.

The global cannabis industry is forecast to hit RM255.06 billion in sales by 2026, with the U.S. market growing to RM185.50 billion by then, up from RM115.94 billion last year, according to cannabis-focused research firm BDSA’s September projections.

Industry experts believe U.S. federal reforms could push those figures much higher. – Reuters

The post Biden Shifts US Marijuana Policy, Pardons Previous Federal Offences first appeared on NMH.

On Wednesday, Kim presided over a COVID meeting and ordered the lifting of maximum anti-epidemic measures imposed in May, while emphasising the importance of North Korea maintaining a “steel-strong anti-epidemic barrier.”

According to the official KCNA, North Korea dropped the mask-wearing obligation and other rules such as limiting the service time of commercial and public facilities in all areas except border regions as part of the transition to a “normal” anti-epidemic system from a “top-level” system.

The North recommended those experiencing respiratory symptoms should keep wearing masks, and urged people to maintain vigilance against “abnormal things” which Pyongyang has cited as the cause of infections.

The North has blamed its COVID outbreak on the “alien things” near its border with the South, with Kim’s sister Kim Yo Jong vowing “deadly retaliation” for causing the outbreak.

North Korean defectors and activists in the South have for decades floated balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the North, at times along with food, medicine, money and other items.

North Korea has never confirmed how many people caught COVID, apparently due to a lack of means to conduct widespread testing, only reporting the daily numbers of patients with fever. The tally rose to some 4.77 million, and North Korea registered no new such cases since late last month.

The North’s declaration on COVID comes despite no known vaccine programme. Instead, it says it relied on lockdowns, domestically produced medicines, and what Kim called the “advantageous Korean-style socialist system”.

Infectious disease experts have cast doubts on North Korea’s claims of progress, citing an absence of independent data. – Reuters

The post North Korea Lifts Mask Mandate, Distancing Rules After Declaring COVID Victory first appeared on NMH.

In 2020, three mothers of children with cerebral palsy, with the support of civil society organisations, filed a judicial review of the country’s strict narcotics law, arguing for the use of medicinal marijuana to treat symptoms.

The judges said there was insufficient research to support a ruling in favour of the plaintiffs, but they urged the government to conduct research on the therapeutic use of narcotics “immediately.”

“The court needs to emphasise that the government [should] immediately follow up … The results of which can be used to determine policies, including in this case the possibility of changing the law,” said judge Suhartoyo, who like many Indonesians uses one name only.

Decriminalisation of cannabis would be a dramatic shift for the Southeast Asian nation, which has one of the world’s strictest anti-drug laws with penalties for possession or trafficking of large quantities of narcotics including life imprisonment and death.

The plaintiffs had argued that not being allowed to use narcotics for medical reasons was a constitutional violation of citizens’ rights to obtain health services and benefit from the development of science and technology.

“The Constitutional Court has only shifted the responsibility to the government by asking the government to immediately conduct research,” said Yosua Octavian, from the Legal Aid Institute, a civil society group involved in the case.

“The point has been rejected … So people who use marijuana for health reasons in Indonesia will continue to be punished.”

The issue gained traction after Santi Warastuti, whose 13-year-old daughter has cerebral palsy, called for the legalisation of marijuana for medical research on a busy street in downtown Jakarta.

The 43-year-old mother went viral on social media after she held a placard on a crowded thoroughfare that read: “Help, my child needs medical marijuana.”

Indonesia’s parliament has said it would undertake a comprehensive study on the benefits of medical marijuana.

Any moves to legalise would follow Thailand, which became the first country in the region to green-light medical marijuana in 2018, and cannabis cultivation and consumption this year. – Reuters

The post Indonesian Court Rejects Call To Legalise Medical Marijuana first appeared on NMH.

Around 25 million children around the world missed out on routine vaccinations that protect against life-threatening diseases last year, as the knock-on effects of the pandemic continue to disrupt health care globally.

That is two million more children than in 2020, when Covid-19 caused lockdowns around the world and six million more than pre-pandemic in 2019, according to new figures released by Unicef and the World Health Organisation.

Unicef described the drop in vaccination coverage as the largest sustained backslide in childhood vaccination in a generation, taking coverage rates back to levels not seen since the early 2000s.

Many had hoped that 2021 would see some ground recovered after the first year of the pandemic, but the situation actually worsened, raising questions over catch-up efforts.

“I want to get across the urgency,” Unicef’s senior immunisation specialist, Niklas Danielsson told Reuters.

“This is a child health crisis.” The agency said that a focus on Covid-19 immunisation campaigns in 2021, as well as the economic slowdown and strain on healthcare systems, had stymied a quicker recovery for routine vaccinations.

Vaccine Coverage Drops

Coverage dropped in every region, the figures showed, which are estimated using data on the take-up of the three-dose diptheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP3) jab and include both children who get no jabs at all and those who miss on any of the three doses necessary for protection. Globally, coverage fell by five per cent to 81 per cent last year.

The number of “zero-dose” children, who did not receive any vaccinations, rose by 37% between 2019 and 2021, from 13 to 18 million children mostly in low and middle-income countries, the data showed.

For many diseases, more than 90% of children need to be vaccinated in order to prevent outbreaks. There have already been reports of rising cases of vaccine-preventable diseases in recent months, including a 400% rise in measles cases in Africa in 2022.

In 2021, 24.7 million children missed their first dose of measles vaccine, and a further 14.7 million did not get the essential second dose, the data showed. Coverage was 81%, the lowest since 2008.

The numbers are worked out using data from national health systems in 177 countries. – Reuters.

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