Centre clarifies: It is 21,000 and not 11lakh children who missed measles vaccine

New Delhi: There have been some media reports alleging that an estimated 11 lakhs children in India missed their 1^st measles vaccine dose in 2022, according to a report published by the World Health Organization and US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

These reports are not based on facts and do not reflect the true picture, said a PIB press release adding, “These reports are based on the estimated number reported under WHO UNICEF Estimates National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) 2022 report which covers the time-period from 1^st of January 2022 to 31^st of December 2022.”

However, as per the HMIS of Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, a total of 2,63,63,270 children out of the eligible 2,63,84,580 children received their 1^st dose of Measles Containing Vaccine (MCV) in the FY 2022-23 (April 2022 to March 2023) and only 21,310 children missed their 1^st dose of Measles Containing Vaccine (MCV) in 2022-23.

Besides this, the release said, several initiatives have been undertaken by the Government of India in coordination with the States to ensure that all children, either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated receive all missed/due doses of Measles Containing Vaccine.