Local trends in immunisation coverage across Africa

Abstract

Triangulating evidence from different study designs is needed. 8,9 Randomised trials on quitting alcohol at different levels will be ethical, informative, and warranted.Braillon 8 proposed the term moderate alcohol use should be replaced with low risk of drinking, where appropriate, to show that there is a health risk associated with drinking at any level. We further advocate that the term harmful use should no longer be used.The WHO voluntary global non-communicable diseases target for 2025 of a 10% reduction in harmful alcohol use (which is ill-defined) is unachievable with current approaches. Alcohol control is complex and stronger policies are required. The alcohol industry is thriving and should be regulated in a similar way to the tobacco industry. 10,11 Since the WHO FCTC has been successful, we advocate for a Framework Convention for Alcohol Control (FCAC) 10,11 and urge WHO to start the process as soon as possible. We also propose a stage of alcohol epidemic model (SAEM) with reference to the stage of tobacco epidemic model and the stage of obesity epidemic model. 12 At present, alcohol use is increasing in all countries. The SAEM forewarns that alcohol-attributable diseases will continue to increase, even when alcohol prevalence has reached the peak (ie, 0% increase) and begins to decline. The lag between the peak of alcohol prevalence and alcohol-induced diseases, which could be several decades, might confuse policy makers, and be used by the alcohol industry and related interests to argue against more stringent control measures by claiming that moderate drinkers should not be deprived of the supposed health benefits. We need to learn from tobacco control and unite to advocate for a FCAC.

40 years of immunization in Mozambique: a narrative review of literature, accomplishments, and perspectives

“…The vaccination coverage in African countries has increased in the last decades, decreasing children's morbidity and mortality due to vaccines-preventable diseases. However, coverage rates, both national and vaccine-related, remain far from the recommended goal defined by the GVAP which still contributes to child morbidity and mortality across the African countries 7 .…”

Determinants of childhood vaccination among children aged 12–23 months in Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

“…Some evidence indicated that global vaccine coverage is decreasing 21. A study summarised by the Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) of sub-Saharan African countries showed that the full vaccination coverage was 59.40% in 2021 22.…”

Comparing full immunisation status of children (0–23 months) between slums of Kampala City and the rural setting of Iganga District in Uganda: a cross-sectional study

“…Despite the WHO efforts, the coverage is still below the global target [ 1 , 2 , 7 ]. Studies on immunisation coverage in Africa have shown improved but suboptimal coverage in most settings [ 8 – 10 ]. Therefore, most countries are not in line with reaching the SDG target 3.2 of reducing childhood mortality [ 11 ].…”