Between 2019 and 2021, 67 million children were completely or partially deprived of life-saving vaccines due to Covid-19 disruptions, setting the world back more than a decade in childhood vaccinations, warns the UN .

In three years, due to constraints on health systems or pandemic-related lockdowns, “more than a decade of progress in routine childhood immunizations has been undermined”, and “recovering the right path will be a challenge, ”underlines the UNICEF report published on Wednesday, which is worried regarding the risk of epidemics of measles or polio.

Down in 112 countries

According to the UN agency, this vaccination coverage is down in 112 countries. And between 2019 and 2021, the global childhood immunization rate fell by 5 percentage points, to 81%, a level not seen since 2008: 67 million children missed out on vaccines, particularly in Africa and South Asia, and 48 million of them received no dose of any kind.

A situation all the more worrying as this decline occurred at the end of a decade when “the growth of childhood vaccination was stagnating”, following the massive increase in the 1980s, underlines the UN agency.

“Vaccines have played a really important role in enabling children to live long, healthy lives,” so “any decline in vaccination rates is worrying,” report editor Brian Keeley told AFP. .

Over 4 million lives saved each year

Immunizing children thus saves 4.4 million lives each year, underlines UNICEF, a number which might climb to 5.8 million if the world managed to halve the number of children deprived of essential vaccines and to achieve 90% coverage for key life-saving vaccines.

Before the introduction of the vaccine in 1963, measles killed some 2.6 million people a year, mostly children. A figure dropped to 128,000 in 2021 for this disease which today particularly worries the UN.

In three years, the vaccination rate once morest measles — so contagious that it requires 95% vaccinations in a community to achieve herd immunity — has dropped from 86% to 81%, according to the report. And the number of measles cases doubled in 2022 compared to 2021.

“Survival Crisis”

The fall in the vaccination rate, similar for polio, diphtheria or whooping cough, is also occurring in a broader context of the “survival crisis” of children, notes UNICEF, highlighting an overlapping of crises (malnutrition, impacts climate change, poverty, etc.)

“It is increasingly difficult for health systems and governments to meet the need for vaccinations,” said Brian Keeley. To improve vaccination coverage, however, it is necessary to “strengthen primary health care and provide front-line personnel, mostly women, with the resources and support they need”, insists UNICEF.

Not to mention the 67 million children deprived of vaccines during Covid-19 who will fall out of the age group targeted by vaccinations, argues Keeley, calling for them for a “determined catch-up program”.

Falling confidence

At the same time, while the debates around Covid have put anti-vaccines back in the spotlight, the report is concerned regarding a drop in confidence in vaccination in 52 out of 55 countries studied. “These data are a worrying warning signal,” warned UNICEF boss Catherine Russell in a statement.

“Trust in routine immunization must not be a casualty of the pandemic as well, or large numbers of children will soon die of measles, diphtheria or other diseases. avoidable”.

In half of these 55 countries, “notoriously changing” vaccine confidence remains above 80%, however, tempers UNICEF. And despite this mistrust, “there is reason to be optimistic that services are resuming in a number of countries,” said Brian Keeley, referring to “encouraging” preliminary data for vaccinations in 2022.

But “even if we manage to get back to where we were before the pandemic, hopefully in a few years”, progress will still have to be made to vaccinate those who were deprived of their injections already before Covid-19, insists he.

Credit card, phone number, SIM card, applications, Wifi… And the list of codes to remember is endless. It’s already quite a feat to remember the most important ones, so don’t feel guilty for having forgotten the combination of your suitcase! It’s completely human. Especially if you haven’t written it down anywhere and only use it once a year for summer vacation. That’s very nice, you would say, but right now, it’s only small consolation. Because, at some point, you have to open this carefully packed suitcase. But yes, rest assured, you will find a solution to unlock it one way or another. Precisely, if you experience this kind of unfortunate setback, here are the steps to follow closely.

• Step 1: keep calm

Getting angry or cursing the whole earth will surely not help you open that famous suitcase any faster. If you entered a random code and it doesn’t work, that’s normal. Do not panic unnecessarily and make up your mind: yes, you have forgotten this code. It happens, it’s not the end of the world. Keep your cool, breathe deeply and don’t waste time multiplying combinations blindly hoping for a miracle. Ah yes, first of all, observe this baggage carefully. If so, it’s not even yours. Who knows, maybe you accidentally confused it with another traveller’s suitcase?

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• Step 2: Check factory settings

No, you’re sure, it’s your suitcase. Alright. Well, if it’s still relatively new, hopefully the lock may not have been adjusted at all. The code would therefore be the original one (according to the factory settings) and it is rather easy to guess. In general, many manufacturers deliver cases with the code 000. If you have the slightest doubt that you have not fixed your own series of numbers, quickly test this one!

• Step 3: think logically

Too bad it doesn’t work. Okay, so chances are you had indeed defined your own code. So think regarding it: in your opinion, which type of combination seems the most plausible to you? Logically, you didn’t look too far, you probably thought of a date of birth, wedding or any date important to you. It can also be part of your phone number, a common password or even your lucky numbers. Does this refresh your memory? If so, many many travelers keep it simple and just use the popular code 123. Maybe you’ve thought of that too?

• Step 4: Try these number combinations

No, nothing helps, still no opening! Let’s move on. In absolute terms, the combination of numbers on suitcases usually consists of only three digits. This is an advantage, because the more digits there are, the more coding variants there are. There, in this case, by removing the option from code 000, there remain exactly 999 possible combinations. We are absolutely not trying to upset you, but indeed, if you have a little time, you can always give it a shot. Preferably not at random, make yourself comfortable, take a notepad and therefore scroll through the codes one following the other. Start by counting: 001, 002, 003 and so on, in the second round then 010, 011, 012 until you find the right combination.

Noticed : simpler still, it is also possible to try to open the lock by groping step by step. Turn each wheel individually and try to listen for a slight creak: this is a sign that you have found the right position.

• Step 5: Obtain the TSA key

No, you don’t seem at all impressed by the previous idea, and we understand you. You’re here on vacation, it’s not regarding torturing you or making you work either. The good news is that most suitcases are equipped with so-called “TSA” locks. In addition to the combination lock, the luggage also has a real lock. It is used in particular during a check at the airport to be able to search the suitcase without damaging it. If this is the case, you can therefore contact the security officers at airports or customs who normally have a universal key. Only problem: you must necessarily prove that this suitcase really belongs to you. Because any criminal might easily use this method!

Good to know : Nowadays, most locksmiths and luggage dealers also carry a TSA key. If that can make things easier for you! Alternatively, if you have the ability, you can make the right key yourself using a 3D printer and templates found on the internet.

• Step 6: Use the strong way

Well, if all these solutions do not work, there is still the last option to try. If you are too pressed for time or you do not have the opportunity to call on a professional, all you have to do is use force to open your luggage. Start with the zipper (hope there is one!). Use a pointed object, such as a pen, and slide it between the teeth of the zipper. Next, the tool of choice is a screwdriver that will help you open the case lock. On the way back, you can use tape instead or have the suitcase packed at the airport altogether.

Important : you should only force open the suitcase in the presence of other people who can confirm that it really belongs to you.

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A locked suitcase – Source: spm

Looking to reset your suitcase lock code? Perhaps to better retain it and avoid the slightest disappointment? It’s a good initiative, but first of all you have to take into account some important aspects. As said, on delivery the digital code is always set to 000. But if you want to change the combination, you must necessarily know the current code. If you have forgotten it, the only choice left to you is to try all the combinations from 000 to 999. Proceed number by number, i.e. from 1 (001) to 999. It is not as long as you can imagine. Depending on the lock, you will need 15 to 30 minutes to play all the combinations. On the other hand, tell yourself that the TSA key will be of no use to you in this specific case. One thing to remember: only change the code by one digit, i.e. turn a 0 into a 1. You should only set the final code once you have determined the correct method. And above all, for pure safety, remember to remember the new combination or write it down somewhere discreetly!

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