GABORONE, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Botswana is experiencing a significant decline in routine immunization coverage, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday.
"In 2024, only 50 percent of children under 12 months were fully immunized, with coverage rates for the oral polio vaccine falling to 74 percent and the measles and rubella vaccine to 77 percent," the UNICEF noted in a press release.
Though Botswana maintained high immunization rates before the COVID-19 pandemic, it has experienced a troubling drop in coverage in recent years. The decline is attributed to multiple factors, including pandemic-related disruptions, limited access to healthcare services in remote areas, and vaccine hesitancy in certain communities, the UN agency said.
Kimanzi Muthengi, UNICEF acting country representative to Botswana, emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue, calling for "collective efforts" to ensure immunization for all.
In response to the growing concern, UNICEF and the World Health Organization have collaborated with Botswana to develop a comprehensive National Immunization Strategy, a framework designed to improve immunization coverage, ensure equitable vaccine access, and promote long-term sustainability, said the press release.
