A new study published in The Lancet has revealed a sharp decline in global childhood vaccination rates, leaving millions of children at risk of preventable diseases such as measles, polio, and tuberculosis. The research, conducted by the University of Washington, shows that progress in immunisation has either stalled or reversed in many parts of the world since 2010.
The findings are alarming: protection against measles has decreased in over 100 countries, including wealthy nations that had previously eliminated the disease. In 2023 alone, nearly 16 million children received no childhood vaccines at all, with most of them living in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Over half of the world’s unvaccinated children are concentrated in just eight countries: Nigeria, India, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Indonesia, and Brazil.
The researchers stressed that vaccines have saved an estimated 154 million children’s lives in the past 50 years. However, vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, health system inequalities, and political decisions have slowed efforts to reach more children.
Experts are also concerned about the long-term impact of reduced global health funding, particularly following the United States’ withdrawal of support from the World Health Organization and cuts to USAID during Donald Trump’s presidency.
The study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, urges governments and health partners to prioritize routine immunisation programs, calling them one of the most cost-effective ways to protect children and prevent future outbreaks.
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