UNICEF Jamaica is calling on the Health Ministry to intensify its efforts to engage families and communities to ensure that every child receives their full schedule of childhood vaccinations.

This, amidst findings that Latin America and the Caribbean has seen the biggest decline in routine immunization, of any region in the world, slipping from 93% to 75%, over the last 10 years.

UNICEF says although Jamaica’s strong record of childhood immunization is evident in the data on the region, there is growing concern about some seven per cent of children, under one year old, who have never received a vaccine – referred to as “zero-dose” children.

UNICEF Jamaica representative, Olga Isaza says the fall-off represents a serious threat.

As a result, she wants action to be taken to deliver immunization through systems which are responsive to the needs and contexts of communities and families.