Global infant vaccination rates stabilise post-Covid, misinformation, aid cuts threaten progress

Global infant vaccination levels have begun to stabilise following setbacks during the Covid-19 pandemic, the United Nations reported on Tuesday.

However, the UN warns that rising misinformation and significant international aid cuts are threatening to undo years of progress, leaving millions of children at risk from preventable diseases.

In 2024, 85 percent of the world’s infants—around 109 million children—received the recommended three doses of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The figure marks a modest one percentage point rise from 2023, representing one million additional children vaccinated.

Despite these gains, nearly 20 million infants missed at least one dose of the DTP vaccine last year. Of those, 14.3 million were classified as “zero-dose” children who never received a single vaccine—down slightly from 14.5 million in 2023 but still 1.4 million higher than before the pandemic in 2019.

“The good news is that we have managed to reach more children with life-saving vaccines,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a statement. “But millions of children remain without protection against preventable diseases. That should worry us all.”

Inequity and misinformation

The WHO warned that the world remains “off track” to meet its goal of achieving 90 percent global vaccine coverage for children and adolescents by 2030. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus blamed sharp reductions in aid and rising vaccine skepticism.

“Drastic cuts in aid, coupled with misinformation about the safety of vaccines, threaten to unwind decades of progress,” he said.

UNICEF highlighted that armed conflicts and political instability in several regions are also obstructing immunisation efforts. Ephrem Lemango, UNICEF’s head of immunisation, said the organisation’s ability to respond to outbreaks in nearly 50 countries had been disrupted due to recent funding cuts, particularly from the United States and other donor countries.

Misinformation has become an increasingly dangerous factor, according to WHO vaccine chief Kate O’Brien. “Dwindling trust in hard-earned evidence around the safety of vaccines is contributing to dangerous immunity gaps,” she said.

Measles resurgence

The United States, in particular, has been grappling with a surge in vaccine misinformation, with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. facing ongoing criticism for spreading false claims about vaccine safety. These developments have coincided with the country’s worst measles outbreak in 30 years.

Globally, measles outbreaks have surged: 60 countries reported large and disruptive outbreaks in 2024, up from 33 the year before. While an additional two million children were vaccinated against measles in 2024, the global coverage remains well below the 95 percent threshold needed to prevent widespread transmission.

Glimmers of hope

Despite the challenges, there have been signs of progress, especially in lower-income countries supported by the global vaccine alliance Gavi. According to Gavi chief Sania Nishtar, “In 2024, lower-income countries protected more children than ever before.”

However, concerns are growing over “slippage” in immunisation coverage in upper-middle and high-income countries, where coverage rates had previously exceeded 90 percent.

“Even the smallest drops in immunisation coverage can have devastating consequences,” WHO’s O’Brien warned.

The UN agencies are urging governments and international partners to recommit to vaccine access, combat misinformation, and restore funding to avoid further setbacks in global health security.