Four out of five children around the world are now immunised against
six killer diseases, the World Health Organization and UNICEF announced
this week. This means 3 million children’s lives are saved each year, at
a cost of $1 each for the vaccines.
Ten years ago, only about one in five children worldwide was immunised
against the six diseases – measles, tetanus, polio, diphtheria, whooping
cough and tuberculosis.
This year’s announcement is based on a global average. Afghanistan still
immunises only about one in four children and war-torn Sudan and Somalia
also have low rates. The WHO estimates that 2 million children still die
each year from preventable diseases.
