A child gets vaccinated at a clinic in North Korea, in this file photo from October 2012. YonhapSEOUL, August 6 (AJU PRESS) - More than half of North Korean children remain unvaccinated, leaving the reclusive country still vulnerable to the spread of coronavirus and other diseases, according to a report released by the Korea Institute for National Unification early this week.
The report, which compiled data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, showed deteriorating health conditions among North Korean children due to a significant decline in immunization rates.
Infectious diseases such as diphtheria, hepatitis, measles, pertussis, tetanus and tuberculosis can be prevented through vaccination, and children under one year old are typically given to these vaccinations.
But vaccination rates in North Korea dropped sharply last year. For example, Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccinations fell from 99 percent in 2022 to 63 percent in 2023. Other vaccines also saw similar declines, with most falling below 50 percent and failing to recover to pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019.
"Failures in vaccinations heighten the risk of child mortality and lifelong disabilities, infringing on children's right to be physically and mentally healthy," the institute warned.
It also urged North Korea to cooperate with the international community to ensure timely and equitable distribution of vaccines.
