Zero-dose children comparison flawed, India's population not considered: Sources on WHO-UNICEF data

India is dedicated to reducing zero-dose children, despite having the second-highest number globally, with improved vaccination rates.

India's population, which is many times more than several nations, has not been taken into account while comparing children's vaccination data with 19 other countries in the latest WHO and UNICEF estimates of national immunisation coverage (WUENIC), official sources have said.

They asserted that India is steadfast in its commitment to reduce the number of zero-dose children.

"Even though India has the second highest (number of) zero-dose children in the world, it accounts for 0.11% of the country's total population," Union Health Ministry sources said on July 16.

The sources were reacting to the WUENIC data released on July 15 which stated that India had the second-highest number of children, nearly 16 lakh, who did not receive any vaccine in 2023, just after Nigeria with 21 lakh zero-dose children.

"The comparison is flawed as the base population has not been taken into consideration," a source said.

The WUENIC data showed that India's rank improved from 2021 when the country had recorded the highest number of zero-dose children globally at 27.3 lakh.

The sources said India's antigen-wise coverage is better than that of the world average for all antigens for 2023.