Global Infant Vaccination Rates Stabilize, but Millions Remain Vulnerable Amidst Funding Cuts and Misinformation
GENEVA – The latest global vaccination coverage data reveals a mixed picture: while infant vaccination rates have stabilized after a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, significant challenges remain, leaving millions of children vulnerable to preventable diseases. The United Nations health and children’s agencies report that 85% of infants worldwide received the required three doses of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine in 2024, representing a modest increase of one percentage point and one million more children compared to the previous year. However, this still leaves approximately 20 million infants without complete DTP vaccination, including a staggering 14.3 million who received no doses at all. Although this represents a slight improvement from the 14.5 million zero-dose children reported in 2023, it is alarmingly higher than the pre-pandemic figure of 12.9 million in 2019.
While the stabilization of vaccination rates is welcomed, UN agencies caution against complacency. The global community remains far from its goal of achieving 90% vaccination coverage for children and adolescents by 2030. Deep inequalities in vaccine access persist, with conflicts and humanitarian crises hindering progress in many regions. UNICEF chief Catherine Russell expressed concern that while progress has been made, millions of children remain unprotected from preventable diseases, a situation that demands urgent attention.
One of the most significant obstacles to achieving widespread vaccination coverage is the sharp decline in international aid, particularly from the United States. Funding cuts have disrupted vaccination programs in nearly 50 countries, hindering efforts to reach vulnerable populations. These cuts, combined with the proliferation of misinformation about vaccine safety, threaten to reverse decades of progress in global health. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the urgency of addressing these challenges to protect hard-won gains in child health.
The report highlights the detrimental impact of misinformation on vaccine confidence. Dwindling trust in scientific evidence regarding vaccine safety contributes to immunity gaps and fuels outbreaks of preventable diseases. The spread of misinformation, often amplified through social media and by influential figures, poses a significant threat to public health. WHO vaccine chief Kate O’Brien stressed the dangers of vaccine hesitancy, emphasizing the need for accurate and accessible information to counter misinformation narratives. The situation is particularly acute in the United States, where Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been criticized for promoting vaccine misinformation, coinciding with the country’s worst measles outbreak in 30 years.
The report also underscores the uneven distribution of vaccine access. While some countries have made significant strides in improving vaccination rates, others lag behind, particularly those grappling with conflict, poverty, and weak health systems. Addressing these inequities requires targeted interventions and increased investment in health infrastructure and service delivery. The impact of conflict on vaccination efforts is particularly concerning, as it disrupts access to healthcare and displaces populations, creating conditions ripe for disease outbreaks.
The resurgence of measles serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of declining vaccination rates and misinformation. In 2024, 60 countries experienced large measles outbreaks, nearly double the number in 2022. Although two million more children received measles vaccines in 2024 compared to the previous year, global coverage remains below the 95% threshold needed to prevent widespread transmission. The resurgence of measles underscores the critical importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage rates and addressing vaccine hesitancy effectively. The international community must prioritize investments in vaccination programs, strengthen health systems, and combat misinformation to ensure that all children have access to life-saving vaccines and are protected from preventable diseases. The future of global health depends on it.