Global immunisation campaigns are facing unprecedented hurdles as rising outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, coupled with severe funding cuts and humanitarian crises, place millions of children and vulnerable adults at risk. The World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, and Gavi have sounded the alarm during World Immunisation Week, held from April 24 to April 30, 2025, under the theme “Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible.” Despite vaccines saving over 150 million lives over the past fifty years, global health leaders warn that recent setbacks could reverse decades of progress. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus highlighted that outbreaks are surging worldwide, significantly increasing the burden on already strained healthcare systems. He noted that diseases like measles, meningitis, and yellow fever, once under control, are resurging in many regions, while illnesses such as diphtheria threaten to return.
The statistics paint a stark picture. In 2023, the world witnessed an estimated 10.3 million measles cases, marking a 20 percent rise compared to the previous year. A total of 138 countries reported cases, with 61 experiencing large-scale or disruptive outbreaks, the worst seen since 2019. The African continent is particularly hard-hit, with meningitis and yellow fever cases on the rise. Alarmingly, the first three months of 2025 saw over 5,500 suspected meningitis cases and nearly 300 deaths. Such outbreaks not only endanger lives but also lead to skyrocketing costs for disease treatment and outbreak responses, putting additional strain on countries least equipped to manage such crises.
A recent WHO stocktake across 108 country offices revealed that nearly half of these nations, especially low-income countries, are experiencing moderate to severe disruptions in their vaccination programs. Contributing to these challenges is the growing number of children missing routine immunisations. In 2023, approximately 14.5 million children did not receive essential vaccines, a figure that has increased from the previous year. Conflict zones remain the most critical areas, where instability frequently blocks access to basic healthcare, leaving millions vulnerable to preventable diseases. Over half of the unvaccinated children live in such areas, where services are either inaccessible or non-existent.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stressed that the global funding shortfall is severely undermining the ability to vaccinate millions, particularly in fragile regions. She warned that disruptions to immunisation, disease surveillance, and outbreak response activities have regressed to levels not seen since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi are urgently appealing to governments worldwide to prioritise immunisation and bolster funding. Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, emphasised that the rise in outbreaks is a grave threat to global health and warned that without sufficient resources, critical immunisation activities could collapse, particularly in the nations bearing the highest burdens.
Looking ahead, Gavi’s pledging summit in June 2025 aims to raise at least $9 billion to support ongoing immunisation efforts. This funding is vital to protect 500 million children and avert millions of preventable deaths. Dr. Nishtar underscored that immunisation remains one of the most cost-effective public health interventions, yielding a return of $54 for every dollar invested. While progress has been made, notably with HPV vaccine coverage in Africa nearly doubling between 2020 and 2023 and the introduction of malaria vaccines in 20 African countries, the urgency to secure more robust immunisation systems has never been greater. WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi are calling on governments, donors, and communities alike to recommit to the goal of universal vaccine access to safeguard future generations.
