Chair and Members of SEAR-ITAG
Representatives of Ministry of Health of Member States
Chairs and members of national immunization technical advisory groups
Members of SAGE
Representatives from UNICEF, Gavi, and other partners
Distinguished experts
Colleagues
Ladies and gentlemen
Good morning to you all.
Before I begin, I would like to welcome the newly appointed members of this Immunization Technical Advisory Group. We look forward to your expertise and contributions and thank you for your time and dedication.
The South-East Asia Region’s progress is real, and it is encouraging.
In 2025, regional DTP3 coverage reached 94%, while MCV1 coverage reached 96%. Zero-dose children fell to approximately 1.2 million – a 65% reduction from 2021.
The Region has sustained elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus, and polio-free status, and continues to advance rubella elimination and hepatitis B control.
These gains reflect strong political commitment, resilient primary health-care systems, dedicated health workers, and effective partnerships. Together, they have protected millions of children and families.
Over the past 50 years, immunization efforts have saved approximately 154 million lives around the world. And here in our region, over the same time, that number stands at an estimated 38 million lives. Measles vaccination has had the greatest impact – approximately 60% of all lives saved.
However, progress must not become complacency.
Sustaining high immunization coverage is increasingly challenging. It needs strong monitoring, timely use of local data, and rigorous programme review.
Inequities persist. Unreached children are concentrated in communities of the underserved and the urban-poor, remote and border areas, migrant and mobile populations, and conflict-affected areas.
Closing these gaps requires tailored strategies, better data, stronger surveillance for vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD), and catch-up vaccination integrated into routine services.
Measles is one such gap.
Outbreaks are costing lives that could have been prevented through vaccination and require urgent action.
Second-dose measles vaccine coverage remains below the regional target, and at the current pace, the Region will likely miss its 2026 measles elimination target.
Nine of our ten Member States have introduced HPV vaccine, but coverage remains suboptimal —sustainable adolescent vaccination platforms and stronger reporting are needed.
VPD surveillance, laboratory networks, and outbreak-response capacity must be strengthened, to detect and respond to outbreaks in time.
All of this is unfolding against a backdrop of global financial pressures, uncertainty in external financing, workforce shortages, and competing health priorities.
In this reality, sustaining investment in immunization is critical. Countries must strengthen domestic financing and make full use of available resources – including Gavi 6.0 support – to protect national priorities, close equity gaps, and build health system resilience.
The Region must also sustain momentum on polio transition, particularly in the four relevant countries – Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, and Nepal – to ensure the sustainable integration of polio assets, expertise, and functions into broader public health and immunization systems.
This meeting is therefore both timely and relevant.
I encourage solution-oriented deliberations that translate evidence into clear and actionable recommendations for our Member States. These should strengthen regional collaboration and partner coordination.
As WHO, we are fully committed to supporting Member States in translating these recommendations into country-owned action, in close collaboration with governments and partners.
I thank the Chair and all the members of SEAR-ITAG for your continued, independent technical guidance.
Together, let us seize this moment to advance equitable, resilient and sustainable immunization for all – ensuring that no child and no community in South-East Asia is left behind.
Thank you.