Behind Bagmati Pradesh in BCG vaccine coverage

Kathmandu: Bagmati is lagging behind other states in BCG vaccination coverage for children.

Annual data on vaccine coverage released by the Ministry of Health shows that the lowest percentage of BCG vaccines were given in Bagmati. In Bagmati, only 71.1 percent have been vaccinated. According to statistics, only 71.1 percent people in Bagmati have been vaccinated. Similarly, 71.4 percent have been vaccinated in State 1 and 71.5 percent in Gandaki. In the far-western region, 88.5 per cent children and in Lumbini province, 93.5 per cent children have been vaccinated. Similarly, in Province 2 and Karnali, 100 percent children have been vaccinated.

The BCG vaccination program is yet to reach the target of 93 percent by 2022 and 95 percent by 2030. At present, only 87.3 percent of infants in Nepal are vaccinated, according to the ministry. UNICEF estimates that 670 children die in Nepal each month due to vaccination.