UN Warns of Aid Cuts and Misinformation Harming Child Vaccination Efforts

In a recent report, the United Nations has highlighted a precarious situation regarding global child vaccination rates, revealing that while infant vaccination levels have stabilized post-COVID, significant challenges persist. On July 15, 2025, the UN reported that 85% of infants worldwide, equating to approximately 109 million children, received three doses of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine during 2024. This marks a modest increase from the previous year, but nearly 20 million infants missed at least one DTP dose, including 14.3 million children who received no vaccinations at all, a slight increase from pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

The ongoing struggle against misinformation and drastic cuts in international aid, particularly from the United States and other nations, exacerbates these challenges. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), stated, "Drastic cuts in aid, coupled with misinformation about the safety of vaccines, threaten to unwind decades of progress in immunization." The WHO has set a target of 90% coverage for children and adolescents by 2030, a goal that appears increasingly unattainable given current trends.

Catherine Russell, UNICEF's Executive Director, expressed concern over the increase in so-called 'zero-dose' children, emphasizing that "millions of children remain without protection against preventable diseases, and that should worry us all." The situation is particularly dire in conflict-affected regions where access to vaccines is limited.

In the face of declining trust in vaccine safety, WHO vaccine chief Dr. Kate O'Brien pointed out that misinformation has led to dangerous immunity gaps, contributing to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. For instance, the United States is currently experiencing its most severe measles epidemic in three decades, attributed in part to the spread of misinformation by public figures. In 2024, 60 countries reported significant outbreaks of measles, nearly doubling from the previous year.

On a more optimistic note, vaccination coverage for various diseases improved in 2024 among the 57 low-income countries supported by the Gavi vaccine alliance, as noted by Gavi's chief, Dr. Sania Nishtar. Despite this progress, the report indicates worrying trends in upper-middle and high-income countries, where even slight declines in vaccination rates can result in severe public health consequences.

The UN's findings underscore the urgent need for renewed efforts to combat misinformation and restore funding to immunization programs, as the global community strives to protect children from preventable diseases and prevent outbreaks that could reverse decades of progress in public health.