UN Reports 14 Million Children Missed Vaccinations in 2024

More than 14 million children around the world did not receive a single vaccine in 2024, maintaining a concerning trend observed in the previous year. This statistic was reported by United Nations health officials in their annual assessment of global vaccination coverage.

The data, released jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), indicates that approximately 89% of children under one year of age received their first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough vaccine this year. This figure is consistent with the coverage rate in 2023. Furthermore, about 85% of children completed the recommended three-dose series, a slight increase from the 84% recorded the previous year.

Despite these figures, health officials have highlighted the challenges stemming from a reduction in international aid, which could hinder efforts to vaccinate unprotected children. Earlier in the year, the United States, under former President Donald Trump, withdrew from the WHO and initiated severe cuts to humanitarian assistance. Additionally, recent announcements indicated a withdrawal of financial support to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi), citing dissatisfaction with the organisation's scientific practices.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, stated that "Drastic cuts in aid, coupled with misinformation about the safety of vaccines, threaten to unwind decades of progress."

The report also noted that vaccine access remains uneven globally, with nine countries accounting for more than half of the children who missed vaccinations entirely. These countries include Nigeria, India, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Angola. Sudan, in particular, faced the lowest reported vaccine coverage rates for the diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough vaccine.

While there was a slight improvement in the coverage against measles, with 76% of children globally having received both doses of the vaccine, experts warn that rates must reach 95% to effectively prevent outbreaks of this highly contagious disease. The WHO reported that 60 countries experienced significant measles outbreaks in 2023.

The situation in the United States has also raised alarms, as it has encountered its highest number of measles cases in over three decades. The WHO reported approximately 125,000 cases worldwide in 2024, double the figure recorded the previous year.

In the UK, health officials recently confirmed the death of a child due to measles, which was reported at a hospital in Liverpool. Despite ongoing campaigns aimed at promoting immunisation, only about 84% of children in the UK are currently vaccinated against the disease.

Helen Bradford, a professor of children’s health at University College London, expressed her concerns regarding the situation, stating, "It is hugely concerning, but not at all surprising, that we are continuing to see outbreaks of measles. The only way to stop measles spreading is with vaccination. It is never too late to be vaccinated - even as an adult."

As global health experts continue to address these challenges, the necessity for vaccinations and equitable access to healthcare remains a pressing priority for governments and organisations worldwide.