LONDON — Over 14 million children around the globe missed out on vaccinations last year, a number that has remained steady from the previous year, according to health officials from the United Nations. Alarmingly, nine countries were responsible for more than half of these unvaccinated children.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF released their annual report on global vaccine coverage, stating that about 89% of children under one year old received their first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough vaccine in 2024, unchanged from 2023. Meanwhile, around 85% completed the full three-dose series, increasing slightly from 84% the year before.
Officials expressed concern that a drop in international aid would hinder efforts to address the issue of unvaccinated children. U.S. policy changes under President Trump saw the country withdraw from the WHO and significantly reduce humanitarian aid, which has made it increasingly difficult to support vaccine initiatives. Recently, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the U.S. would no longer be funding the vaccines alliance Gavi, claiming the group had “ignored the science.”
Kennedy, known as a vaccine skeptic, has raised doubts about the safety of certain vaccines. However, it’s important to note that vaccines are credited with preventing millions of deaths globally each year, as per U.N. estimates.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that cutbacks in aid along with misinformation surrounding vaccine safety could undo years of progress. He emphasized that access to vaccines remains unequal, especially in areas affected by conflict and humanitarian crises. Countries like Nigeria, India, and Sudan account for a significant portion of children who missed vaccinations entirely.
In good news, vaccination rates for measles have seen a slight uptick, with 76% of children worldwide receiving both doses of the vaccine. Nevertheless, experts caution that for herd immunity, vaccination rates must reach 95%, especially given recent outbreaks in over 60 countries.
The U.S. is currently facing its worst measles outbreak in over thirty years, with rising cases also reported in Europe. Tragically, a recent report from the U.K. highlighted a child’s death due to measles, underscoring the ongoing challenges in vaccination efforts.
Experts emphasize the critical need for vaccinations to prevent the spread of diseases like measles. As one professor from University College London stated, “It’s never too late to be vaccinated — even as an adult.”
