##朝鲜儿童疫苗接种率持续下降，世卫组织担忧疫情风险
**韩联社首尔8月22日电** 世界卫生组织（WHO）当地时间21日发布的“2024年朝鲜扩大免疫规划项目情况”（EPI Factsheet）报告显示，朝鲜儿童疫苗接种工作持续不到位，引发国际社会担忧。
报告指出，朝鲜已连续三年未实施口服III型脊髓灰质炎（小儿麻痹症）疫苗（OPV3）接种工作。朝鲜OPV3接种率自2014年以来一直超过98%，但在2020年降至70%，之后更是降至零。
除了小儿麻痹症疫苗，其他疫苗接种率也出现大幅下降。新生儿需要接种的预防结核病的卡介苗（BCG）接种率于2021年和2022年分别为95%和99%，2023年降至63%。同期，麻疹疫苗（MCV1）接种率分别为99%、67%和28%。用于预防百白破的三联疫苗（DTP）接种率则由2022年的0%增至16%。
分析认为，朝鲜儿童预防疫苗接种率急剧下滑的主要原因是，朝鲜当局因新冠疫情封锁国门，导致疫苗供应出现差池。此外，朝鲜医疗体系长期存在短缺问题，也加剧了疫苗接种工作的困难。
世卫组织对此表示担忧，认为朝鲜儿童疫苗接种率下降将增加疫情爆发的风险。世卫组织呼吁朝鲜政府尽快恢复疫苗接种工作，并提供必要的支持，确保所有儿童都能获得疫苗接种服务。
专家指出，朝鲜儿童疫苗接种率下降不仅会增加朝鲜国内疫情风险，也会对周边国家构成潜在威胁。随着朝鲜与国际社会的交流日益增多，疫情传播的风险也随之增加。
国际社会呼吁朝鲜政府重视儿童健康问题，采取切实措施改善疫苗接种工作，确保儿童健康安全，并积极与国际社会合作，共同应对疫情风险。
英语如下：
##North Korea’s Declining Vaccination Rates Raise Concerns About Polio Outbreak
**Keywords:** North Korea, vaccination, lagging
**SEOUL, South Korea, August 22 (Yonhap)** The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern over North Korea’s declining vaccination rates, highlighting the potential for outbreaksin its latest “2024 Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Factsheet” released on Monday.
The report revealed that North Korea has notadministered the oral poliovirus vaccine type 3 (OPV3) for three consecutive years. While OPV3 coverage had consistently exceeded 98% since 2014, it plummeted to 70% in2020 and subsequently dropped to zero.
Besides polio, other vaccination rates have also witnessed a significant decline. The BCG vaccine, administered to newborns to prevent tuberculosis, saw coverage rates of 95% and 99%in 2021 and 2022, respectively, but dropped to 63% in 2023. Similarly, measles vaccine (MCV1) coverage declined from 99% and 67% in 2021 and 2022 to28% in 2023. The DTP vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus, saw a slight increase from 0% in 2022 to 16% in 2023.
Analysts attribute the sharp decline in vaccination rates to disruptions invaccine supply due to North Korea’s border closure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the country’s long-standing shortage of medical resources has exacerbated the challenges in implementing vaccination programs.
The WHO expressed concerns that the declining vaccination rates in North Korea could increase the risk of outbreaks. The organizationurged the North Korean government to resume vaccination programs promptly and provide necessary support to ensure all children have access to vaccination services.
Experts have warned that the declining vaccination rates in North Korea not only pose a threat to the country’s domestic health but also pose a potential risk to neighboring countries. As North Korea’s interactionswith the international community increase, the risk of disease transmission also rises.
The international community has called on the North Korean government to prioritize children’s health, take concrete measures to improve vaccination programs, ensure children’s health and safety, and actively cooperate with the international community to address the risk of outbreaks.
【来源】https://cn.yna.co.kr/view/ACK20240822001000881?section=nk/index&input=rss
Views: 2