North Korea Faces Vaccine Supply Disruptions Post-Pandemic
Polio Vaccination Rate Drops to 70%
Behavior Contradicts 'Compassionate Leader' Propaganda
Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, has been visiting flood-affected areas daily, caring for affected children and portraying himself as a 'benevolent leader.' However, it has been revealed that essential vaccinations for child health are not being properly administered. This is presumed to be due to disruptions in vaccine supply following the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, North Korea has not been accepting humanitarian aid from international organizations in a timely manner.
Residents affected by flooding in regions including Pyonganbuk-do arrived in Pyongyang on the 15th. Flood-affected children handing the distributed food to Chairman Kim Jong-un. [Image source=Yonhap News]
According to the 'North Korea Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI Factsheet) 2024' released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the 21st (local time), North Korea did not carry out oral polio vaccine 3 (OPV3) vaccinations until last year, following 2021?2022. North Korea's OPV3 vaccination rate had consistently remained above 98% since 2014 but dropped to 70% in 2020. Since then, vaccinations have not been administered at all.
The coverage rate for the Bacillus Calmette-Gu?rin (BCG) vaccine, a representative newborn vaccination for tuberculosis prevention, was around 95% and 99% in 2021 and 2022 respectively, but sharply declined to 63% last year. The measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) coverage rate also fell significantly year by year during the same period, from 99% to 67% and then to 28%. The diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine (DTP) coverage rate was 0% in 2022 and only reached 16% last year.
The sharp decline in child vaccination rates in North Korea is interpreted as a result of vaccine supply disruptions caused by border closures following the COVID-19 pandemic. Even after lifting the border closure order, North Korea has only allowed the entry of diplomats from pro-North countries such as China and Russia, while refusing to accept international organization staff. It is reported that UNICEF delivered more than 4 million doses of vaccines for children and pregnant women to North Korea in mid-last month, but it is difficult to confirm whether these vaccines are being administered to all children in a timely manner.
Following severe flooding around the Amnok River area, Chairman Kim Jong-un has been visiting flood sites daily, portraying a 'benevolent' image. However, materials promoted by North Korea show scenes that have drawn international criticism, such as flood-affected children unable to eat bread and food who appear to want to give them to Chairman Kim, and scenes of Kim smoking beside students sitting at the back of a classroom during lessons.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
