A new global study has revealed that progress in vaccinating children against life-threatening diseases has stalled over the past two decades, and in some countries, even reversed.
The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the situation, disrupting immunization programs and leaving millions of children unprotected against diseases like measles, polio, and tuberculosis.
The study, published in The Lancet, found that by 2023 nearly 16 million children—mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia—had received no childhood vaccinations.
Researchers warn that vaccine inequality, rising misinformation, and cuts to global health aid are creating a “perfect storm” that threatens decades of public health progress.
Although global childhood vaccination efforts have saved an estimated 150 million lives since 1974, progress has stagnated since 2010, with measles vaccinations declining in nearly 100 countries.
Dr. Jonathan Mosser, lead author of the study, emphasized that routine childhood vaccinations remain one of the most cost-effective public health measures, yet millions remain under- or unvaccinated.
Health experts stress that the growing gap in vaccine access between high- and low-income countries, as well as falling rates in developed nations like the US and parts of Europe, pose a serious global threat.
Professor Sir Andrew Pollard from the Oxford Vaccine Group warned that unless action is taken, more children will suffer or die from preventable diseases due to declining immunization rates.
Dr. David Elliman of University College London noted that factors like civil unrest, wars, and sharp reductions in foreign aid have made it harder to deliver vaccines to vulnerable populations.
The researchers call for urgent global action to strengthen primary healthcare systems, combat vaccine misinformation, and ensure equal access to life-saving immunizations for all children.
