New York: More than 14 million children worldwide did not receive a single dose of any vaccine in 2024, according to new national immunisation coverage data released on Tuesday by the UN agencies World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
The report showed that nearly 20 million infants missed at least one dose of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP)-containing vaccine last year, threatening to unwind decades of progress.
More than 30 million children also remained under-protected against measles, leading to more large or disruptive outbreaks.
In 2024, the number of countries experiencing large or disruptive measles outbreaks rose sharply to 60, nearly doubling from 33 in 2022.
The report blamed limited access to immunisation services, disrupted supply, conflict, and instability, or misinformation about vaccines for children remaining un or under-vaccinated.
"Vaccines save lives, allowing individuals, families, communities, economies and nations to flourish," said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
He noted that the missed doses were due to the “drastic cuts in aid, coupled with misinformation about the safety of vaccines”.
