Bangladesh vaccinates over 7.1m girls in programme combatting cervical cancer: Unicef

Bangladesh has vaccinated over 7.1 million girls since starting its programme in 2023 to combat human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a major cause of cervical cancer, according to a Unicef report.

According to new data released by WHO and UNICEF for 2024 published today (15 July), South Asia has reached its highest-ever immunisation coverage for children. 

This marks a milestone in the region's drive to protect every child from vaccine-preventable diseases.

The new UNICEF and WHO data show strong government commitments, investments, and partnerships have propelled South Asia to achieve its highest-ever immunisation coverage, the report stated.

"This is a proud moment for South Asia. More children are protected today than ever before, thanks to tireless frontline health workers, strong government leadership, donors' and partners' support and the unwavering trust of families," said UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia Sanjay Wijesekera. 

"But we cannot forget the millions of children who are under vaccinated or unvaccinated. Now is the time to push further, especially into the most rural areas, to give every child his or her right to healthcare in the earliest years of life."

HPV vaccine

Vaccination coverage for adolescent girls in South Asia against HPV increased from 2% in 2023 to 9% in 2024. 

Besides Bangladesh's notable progress, the report mentions that similarly, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka increased their HPV vaccination rates by 3 percentage points (from 91% to 94%), 15 percentage points (from 60% to 75%), and 17 percentage points (from 31% to 48%) respectively in 2024. 

Nepal launched its national HPV vaccination campaign in February 2025 and has vaccinated over 1.4 million girls so far. 

India and Pakistan are expected to launch their HPV vaccination programmes later this year.

DTP vaccine

In 2024, 92% of the infants in the region received their third dose of the Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTP) vaccine, a crucial global indicator of vaccination progress. 

This marks a 2 percentage point increase since 2023. 

During the same period, the proportion of children receiving their first dose of DTP increased from 93% to 95%. 

These figures show a strong bounce back, surpassing pre-COVID levels – reflecting the efforts of the South Asian governments to prioritise children's health.

Additionally, there was a 27% reduction in the number of children who did not receive a single dose of the vaccine, also known as zero-dose children, decreasing from 2.5 million to 1.8 million in a year.

Progress has been notably strong in India and Nepal. 

India reduced its number of zero-dose children by 43% (from 1.6 million in 2023 to 0.9 million in 2024), and Nepal achieved a 52% reduction (from 23,000 in 2023 to 11,000 in 2024). 

Pakistan also achieved its highest-ever DTP3 coverage at 87%. 

However, Afghanistan still faces challenges, having the lowest coverage in the region and saw a 1 percentage point drop in coverage over the past year.

Measles

South Asia achieved the strongest regional progress in eliminating measles. 

In 2024, 93% of infants received the first dose and 88% received the second dose, up from 90% and 87%, respectively. 

The number of measles cases dropped 39%, from over 90,000 in 2023 to about 55,000 in 2024. 

However, vaccine coverage remains below the 95% threshold required to prevent outbreaks.

"It is heartening to see WHO South-East Asia Region reach the highest ever immunisation rates, surpassing the pre-pandemic up-trend. We must build on this momentum and step up efforts to reach every child with these lifesaving vaccines. Together we can, and we must," said Director Programme Management of WHO South-East Asia Region Dr Thaksaphon Thamarangsi.

The report states that behind these strides are years of dedicated work and collaboration. 

Governments have shown leadership by prioritising immunisation through strong policies and investments. 

Frontline health workers, particularly women in community health roles, have played a crucial part in reaching underserved families and building vaccine confidence. 

Community support and trust in vaccines have also grown significantly. 

Donors, local partners, and manufacturers have provided long-standing support to make vaccines widely available and accessible. 

Additionally, digital tools, innovative strategies, and improved data collection have helped identify children who missed vaccinations. 

Targeted campaigns have ensured timely access to lifesaving vaccines for children, adolescents, and mothers.

 Despite significant progress in child immunisation across the region in 2024, over 2.9 million children remain un- or under-vaccinated and thus vulnerable to preventable diseases. 

In response, UNICEF and WHO urge South Asian governments to sustain political commitment, increase domestic funding for immunisation, and expand HPV vaccine coverage. 

They also call for intensified efforts to reach zero-dose and under-vaccinated children, greater investment in frontline and community health workers, closing gaps in measles coverage, and strengthening disease surveillance systems.

"The strides made in immunisation across South Asia demonstrate that collaborative effort can lead to remarkable achievements for children. Governments must now sustain this momentum to ensure every child has a healthy start in life," the report concluded.