Cape Town health authorities have flagged a concerning decline in childhood immunisation coverage, warning that fewer children are being fully vaccinated as World Immunisation Week is observed globally.
The annual campaign, which highlights the life-saving impact of vaccines, brought healthcare workers, caregivers and city officials together at Eastridge Clinic in Mitchells Plain last week, where the focus was both celebration and concern.
This year’s theme, “For every generation, vaccines work,” reflects decades of progress in preventing deadly but avoidable diseases. Yet City Health data suggests that progress may be stalling.
Between July 2025 and March this year, 294,894 vaccine doses were administered to children under 12 in Cape Town. That figure is down from 310,786 doses recorded in the same period last year.
Even more concerning for health officials is a 3.6% drop in the number of fully immunised children under the age of one, an early warning sign that more infants may be left exposed to serious illnesses such as measles, diphtheria, polio and pneumonia.
Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Francine Higham, says the trend is already visible on the ground.
“We have large groups of children who are under-vaccinated and who are subsequently vulnerable to vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, especially measles. This is a serious concern that requires all of us to work together.”
Higham emphasised that immunisation is not only a healthcare issue but also a shared social responsibility.
“World Immunisation Week is not only about vaccines, but it is also about people, families, and the shared responsibility we carry to protect one another.”
Health officials warn that gaps in routine vaccination can quickly undo years of public health gains, particularly when diseases like measles or diphtheria resurface in under-immunised communities.
Despite the concern, Higham stresses that vaccines remain one of the most effective tools in preventing childhood illness.
“Immunisation is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways we can protect our children and communities. Vaccines shield children from diseases that once caused great suffering, including measles, polio, tuberculosis, pneumonia, tetanus and diphtheria.”
She added that the benefits extend beyond individual protection.
“By vaccinating a child, families are not only protecting that child, but also helping to safeguard siblings, neighbours and the broader community through collective protection.”
The City is urging parents and caregivers not to delay vaccinations, noting that missed doses can still be caught up at local clinics, where staff are available to assist and guide families through immunisation schedules.
