The United Nations reports that over 14 million children missed vaccines in 2024. This number is similar to last year and highlights gaps in vaccination efforts. The data, shared by WHO and UNICEF, shows the urgent need to improve vaccine access worldwide.
Key Findings:
- Global Coverage Rates: About 89% of babies got their first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough vaccine in 2024. However, only 85% got all three doses. This is a small increase from 84% in 2023.
- Measles Vaccination: Measles vaccination reached 76%, still below the 95% needed to prevent outbreaks. In 2024, 60 countries reported large measles outbreaks.
- Geographical Gaps: Nine countries—Nigeria, India, Sudan, Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Angola—had more than half of the children who missed vaccines.
Challenges to Immunization:
- Conflict and Instability: Crisis areas often lack good healthcare, making vaccination efforts harder.
- Vaccine Hesitancy: Misinformation and mistrust in vaccines cause many caregivers to avoid vaccinating their children.
- Funding Shortages: Less funding, especially after the U.S. stopped supporting WHO and Gavi, has made vaccination programs harder to run.
Why Vaccination Matters:
Vaccines are important for preventing diseases that cause serious illness or death. WHO estimates that immunization saves 3.5 to 5 million lives each year. Without more effort, millions of children remain at risk of preventable diseases.
What Needs to Be Done:
Global health groups are urging governments to increase vaccination efforts, fight misinformation, and ensure vaccines are available for all children. Only by working together can we close the vaccination gap and protect future generations.
