In a staggering revelation, the United Nations reports that over 14 million children missed out on essential vaccinations last year, a shocking figure that mirrors the previous year's statistics. Alarmingly, nine countries are responsible for more than half of these unvaccinated children.

In their latest global vaccine coverage report released Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF revealed that around 89% of children under the age of one received the initial dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough vaccine in 2024, holding steady from 2023. However, only 85% completed the required three-dose series, up from 84% the year before.

But in a troubling turn of events, the face of international aid is changing. Following major policy shifts, including a withdrawal from WHO by U.S. President Trump and significant cuts to humanitarian aid, experts fear that the situation for unprotected children may worsen. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his vaccine skepticism, recently announced that the U.S. is pulling billions from the vaccines alliance Gavi, claiming it has 'ignored the science.' This skepticism poses a grave threat to public health.

The WHO insists that massive reductions in aid, combined with rampant misinformation regarding vaccine safety, jeopardize decades of progress in child health. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, 'Drastic cuts in aid threaten to unwind decades of progress.'

U.N. experts highlight that vaccine access remains alarmingly unequal worldwide, with conflict zones rapidly reversing gains made in vaccination coverage. Sudan, in particular, reported dismal rates for the diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough vaccine. A shocking 52% of unvaccinated children are concentrated in nine countries: Nigeria, India, Sudan, Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Angola.

In a glimmer of hope, vaccination coverage against measles saw a slight uptick, with 76% of children worldwide receiving both doses of the vaccine. Yet, experts warn that a staggering 95% coverage is essential to prevent outbreaks. The WHO reports that last year, 60 countries faced significant measles outbreaks.

The U.S. is grappling with its most severe measles outbreak in over 30 years, while Europe has witnessed a surge, with 125,000 cases recorded in 2024—double that of the previous year. A tragic reminder of the risk occurred recently in the U.K., where a child succumbed to measles despite ongoing efforts to raise vaccination awareness; only 84% of the U.K. children are currently protected.

Helen Bradford, a children's health professor at University College London, expressed deep concern, stating, 'The only way to stop measles spreading is with vaccination. It is never too late to be vaccinated—even as an adult.'