Childhood vaccination continues to be one of the most cost-effective health policy interventions, preventing 4 to 5 million deaths every year (WHO, 2019[1]). Nevertheless, the global coverage for three doses of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) vaccine dropped from 86% in 2019 to 81% in 2021 and an estimated 25 million children under the age of 1 year did not receive basic vaccines, the highest number since 2009 (WHO, 2020[2]).

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in Asia-Pacific, accounting for 35% of the total deaths in the region in 2019 (Zhao, 2021[1]). Ischaemic heart diseases and stroke were the two major causes of death in Asia-Pacific in 2019, accounting for 25.4% of total deaths in South-East Asia and 34.5% of all deaths in the Western Pacific region (Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, 2022[9]; indicator “Mortality from cardiovascular diseases” in Chapter 3). Additionally, both are associated with significant health, social and other non-financial costs, because of the persistent disabilities suffered by many survivors.

The burden of breast cancer among women is significant in the Asia-Pacific region, where it is the cancer with the highest incidence and mortality rates in South-East Asia and the highest incidence and second highest mortality rates in Western Pacific region. In 2020, according to estimates based on pre‑pandemic trend, approximately 948 000 women were expected to be newly diagnosed with breast cancer and over 316 000 died of the disease in the region (International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), 2022[17]; see indicator “Mortality from cancer” in Chapter 3). Several factors are known to increase the risk of breast cancer, such as increasing age, genetic predisposition, oestrogen replacement therapy and lifestyle factors including obesity, physical inactivity, nutrition habits and alcohol consumption (World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research, 2018[1]; González-Jiménez et al., 2014[2]).

According to estimates based on the pre‑pandemic trend, about 337 000 women in Asia-Pacific countries and territories were expected newly diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2020 (IARC, 2022[19]; see indicator on “Cancer incidence” in Chapter 3), although invasive cervical cancer is preventable if pre‑cancerous or pre‑invasive changes are detected and treated before progression occurs. WHO recommends human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination for girls aged 9‑14 years (WHO, 2017[1]) since vaccination against the main types of HPV responsible for cervical cancer is expected to effectively reduce incidence.

In Asia-Pacific countries and territories, according to estimates based on pre‑pandemic trends, almost 462 000 people were expected newly diagnosed with oesophageal cancer and over 415 000 people died of it in 2020. Among all cancers, oesophageal cancer has the sixth highest incidence rates and fifth highest mortality rates in the region (IARC, 2022[1]). The risk is higher among men, and among people who smoke and drink alcohol.