Over 14 million children remain unvaccinated globally, as conflict, limited access, and misinformation hamper vaccination progress, WHO and UNICEF report says.
Progress Stalls Despite Global Immunization Efforts
The world is struggling to expand childhood immunization coverage, with over 14.3 million children still entirely unvaccinated, according to a new joint report released Monday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The 2024 report highlights that while some improvements were made, vaccination rates remain stagnant and uneven globally, largely due to conflict, limited healthcare access, and rising vaccine hesitancy.
Conflict Zones Pose Critical Barriers
Health experts warn that fragile states and conflict zones are significantly impeding progress. Children in 26 countries facing humanitarian emergencies are three times more likely to remain unvaccinated than those in stable regions. Half of the world’s unvaccinated children live in these crisis-affected areas, including Nigeria, Afghanistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Breaking through this very stubborn glass ceiling is becoming harder,” said Dr. Kate O’Brien, WHO’s Director of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, during a press briefing. “It’s not just a matter of supply—it’s a matter of access, stability, and political will.”
Vaccine Hesitancy Threatens Gains in Wealthy Nations
In high-income countries, misinformation and distrust in public health systems are fueling a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and polio. While access is generally not a concern in these regions, localized vaccine hesitancy has led to clusters of low coverage, triggering outbreaks.
“There are communities hidden under national averages with dangerously low vaccination rates,” said Dr. Ephrem Lemango, UNICEF’s Global Chief of Immunization. “Outbreaks are now emerging in these vulnerable pockets.”
Measles and DTP Coverage Stagnates
According to the report, global coverage for the first dose of measles vaccine remained at 84% in 2024—unchanged from previous years and still below the 2019 peak of 86%. Nearly 20.6 million children missed this crucial dose. Meanwhile, coverage for the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine also showed no meaningful improvement, with 85% completing the full series.
“These stagnant numbers are a wake-up call,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Decades of progress risk being undone by disinformation and declining funding.”
Funding Cuts Undermine Global Efforts
The report also warns that financial support for vaccination programs is dwindling. The dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and reductions in funding to global health initiatives like the Global Fund could leave millions of children unprotected. Global health advocates stress that without renewed investment, immunization rates may fall further.
“We must act now to prevent a backslide,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Shrinking budgets, weak health systems, and misinformation are converging to create a dangerous scenario.”
HPV Vaccine Uptake Shows Promise
Amid concerning trends, one area of progress stands out: HPV vaccination. In 2024, 31% of girls worldwide received their first HPV dose, up from 27% in 2023. Full-dose completion also rose significantly. This increase is largely due to vaccine rollouts in countries like Nigeria and Bangladesh.
“This is a real bright spot,” said O’Brien. “We’re seeing consistent year-over-year growth in HPV coverage, especially where governments have prioritized the vaccine in national programs.”
The report concludes that while global health systems have managed to reach more children than last year, more than 20 million still lack full protection. Experts call for renewed global commitment, local solutions, and urgent funding to break the vaccination deadlock.
“No child should die from a disease we know how to prevent,” said Russell. “Vaccines work, but only if we reach every child—everywhere.”
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