Context:

Global vaccination efforts, which had achieved significant progress since the establishment of the WHO's routine immunization program in 1974, have stalled since 2010, leaving millions of children vulnerable to preventable diseases such as measles, polio, and tuberculosis. The decline in vaccination rates has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in millions of children missing essential vaccines, with the most significant impact observed in sub-Saharan Africa. Researchers attribute part of the issue to misinformation leading to vaccine hesitancy, as well as policy changes such as the U.S. withdrawing from WHO and reducing aid. More than half of the world's unvaccinated children are concentrated in eight countries, including Nigeria and India, highlighting regional disparities in healthcare access. The resurgence of diseases like measles in regions such as the Americas and Europe underscores the global risk posed by declining immunization rates, necessitating urgent corrective measures to protect public health.

Dive Deeper:

• Global vaccination efforts have stagnated since 2010, reversing decades of progress in combating diseases such as measles, polio, and tuberculosis, with measles protection notably decreasing in 100 countries between 2010 and 2019.

• Vaccination rates have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to an estimated 15.6 million children missing vaccines for diphtheria-tetanus-whooping cough and measles, with significant gaps in sub-Saharan Africa.

• Misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, as noted by health experts, have contributed to a worrying trend of parents skipping their children's vaccinations, resulting in outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles and whooping cough.

• The U.S. withdrawal from the WHO and reductions in international aid have raised concerns about potential new epidemics and the sustainability of global immunization programs.

• Over half of the world's 15.7 million unvaccinated children reside in eight countries, including Nigeria, India, and Brazil, reflecting significant regional disparities in access to vaccines and healthcare infrastructure.

• There has been a marked increase in measles cases, with an 11-fold spike in the Americas and a doubling of infections in Europe in recent years, emphasizing the need for immediate action to address declining vaccination coverage.

• Health experts stress the global risk posed by vaccine-preventable diseases, urging for a unified international approach to rectify the current situation and protect public health worldwide.