Shri Sudhansh Pant, Hon’ble Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Government of India; Chair and members of the South-East Asia Regional Immunization Technical Advisory Group; Members of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization; Chairs and representatives of National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups from Member States of the Region; Chair of the Regional Certification Commission for Polio Eradication; Chair of the Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination; National EPI programme managers and surveillance officers from ministries of health of respective Member States; colleagues from WHO headquarters and country offices; Representatives of partner agencies – UNICEF, GAVI, USAID, Rotary International and the Australian Regional Immunization Alliance; vaccine manufactures, participants and friends,
Good morning and welcome to this Fourteenth Meeting of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Immunization Technical Advisory Group (I-TAG). This is the first time we have gathered in this next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, which as you know, is no longer a global health emergency.
I begin by expressing my utmost gratitude to all I-TAG members. Throughout the COVID-19 response, you have provided critical support to Region-wide efforts to maintain, restore and strengthen essential health services, including for routine immunization.
And I also congratulate all national programme managers and staff, who the latest WHO and UNICEF estimates show have restored routine immunization coverage to pre-pandemic levels.
Whereas in 2021, Regional DPT3 coverage was estimated at 82%, by the end of 2022 it had recovered to 91%.
Between 2021 and 2022, coverage of measles-containing vaccine showed a six-percentage point improvement, moving from 86% to 92%.
In 2022, more than 33 million children in the Region received all three doses of DTP vaccine as a part of the primary vaccination series.
Between 2021 and 2022, the number of so-called zero-dose children in the Region was halved, from 4.6 million to 2.3 million, as was the number of partially vaccinated children, which reduced from 1.3 million to 650 000.
Remarkably, throughout this period, countries administered some 3.35 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine, which helped end the acute phase of the pandemic here, as globally.
Today, the Region continues to be polio free, and has maintained elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus as a public health problem.
Five countries have eliminated measles, and of these, four have also eliminated rubella. The same number of countries have controlled hepatitis B through immunization.
These are tremendous achievements, made possible by several powerful enablers:
First, strong political and programmatic commitment and leadership;
Second, effective national and sub-national planning and implementation;
Third, close programme monitoring and efficient problem solving;
Fourth, access to adequate human and financial resources;
Fifth, overall health system strengthening;
And sixth, ongoing partner support.
But let us agree: Our journey is far from complete.
Today, although overall immunization coverage is good, coverage at the subnational level continues to be highly variable.
In several countries, this has caused outbreaks of measles, diphtheria and pertussis, as well as of other vaccine-preventable diseases.
And for as long as it persists, the achievement of our Regional and global targets, and the lives of millions of people across our Region, will be at risk.
Together, let us close remaining gaps, accelerating out of the COVID-19 pandemic with higher routine immunization coverage and increased protection for every person, everywhere.
For this, in June WHO convened a Regional meeting with representatives of ministries of health, national immunization advisory groups and partner agencies.
By the end of the meeting, participants had developed detailed, context-specific plans to reach remaining zero-dose children, as well as partially vaccinated children, with a focus on mobilizing not just vaccines but trained human resources to deliver them.
My message to you today, as you embark on this four-day meeting, is to build on and complement these efforts, with a focus on improving partner coordination and strengthening monitoring and evaluation.
And I also urge you to specifically address the broader determinants of vaccination, including by assessing behavioural and social factors and recommending actions that empower individuals, families and communities.
I close by expressing my utmost gratitude to this I-TAG for its tremendous work, not only over the past three and a half years, but over the past decade.
Together, we have helped hundreds of millions of people in our Region live healthier, longer, more productive and prosperous lives.
I wish you productive deliberations and continued success, for a healthier, more equitable and sustainable Region for all.
Thank you.