Over 14 Million Kids Miss Vaccines: A Global Health Crisis Unfolds

LONDON (AP) — More than 14 million children did not receive a single vaccine last year, a figure nearly identical to the previous year, according to United Nations health officials. Nine countries accounted for over half of these unprotected children.

In their annual global vaccine coverage report released Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF stated that about 89 percent of children under 1 year old received their first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine in 2024, unchanged from 2023. Approximately 85 percent completed the three-dose series, up slightly from 84 percent in 2023.

Officials warned, however, that this year’s collapse of international aid will hinder efforts to reduce the number of unprotected children. In January, President Trump withdrew the United States from the WHO, froze nearly all humanitarian aid, and later moved to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Last month, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the withdrawal of billions of dollars previously pledged by the U.S. to the vaccine alliance Gavi, claiming the organization had “ignored the science.” Kennedy, a well-known vaccine skeptic, has previously questioned the safety of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine, despite its proven safety and efficacy after years of research and widespread use. According to UN estimates, vaccines prevent 3.5 million to 5 million deaths annually.

“Drastic cuts in aid, coupled with vaccine misinformation, threaten to unravel decades of progress,” warned WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

UN experts emphasized that vaccine access remains “deeply unequal” and that conflicts and humanitarian crises can quickly erode progress. Sudan reported the lowest coverage against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.

The data showed that nine countries accounted for 52 percent of all children who missed out on immunizations entirely: Nigeria, India, Sudan, Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Angola.

WHO and UNICEF reported a slight increase in measles vaccine coverage, with 76 percent of children worldwide receiving both doses. However, experts stress that measles vaccination rates must reach 95 percent to prevent outbreaks of this highly contagious disease. WHO noted that 60 countries reported significant measles outbreaks last year.

The United States is currently experiencing its worst measles outbreak in over three decades, while cases have surged across Europe, with 125,000 reported in 2024 — double the previous year’s figure, according to WHO.

Last week, British authorities reported a child’s death from measles in a Liverpool hospital. Health officials stated that despite years of awareness campaigns, only about 84 percent of children in the UK are protected.

“It’s deeply troubling, but not surprising, that we continue to see measles outbreaks,” said Helen Bradford, a professor of children’s health at University College London.

“Vaccination is the only way to stop measles from spreading,” she emphasized. “It’s never too late to get vaccinated — even as an adult.”