Falling vaccination rates leave millions of children at risk, experts warn | World Health Organization

Millions of children worldwide run a growing risk of serious illnesses and deaths due to the drop in infants’ vaccination rates, experts warned, while the United Kingdom ranks in the worst western economies for Ror vaccination.

The figures published by the World Health Organization and UNICEF show that more than 30 million children worldwide are not entirely immune to measles, mumps and rubella and 14.3 million children have not received a single routine infant vaccination.

While the figures show that coverage of measles has improved slightly last year, reaching 2 million more children than in 2023, vaccination rates fell in certain middle and high and stagnated income countries in other regions, leaving children increasingly vulnerable to the epidemics of the disease.

In 53 countries in Europe and Central Asia, vaccination coverage fell on average a percentage point on the 2019 levels. In 2024, more than half of the countries in the region did not respond to the 95% vaccination rate necessary to reach the flock’s immunity for measles. Almost a third reported coverage of less than 90%.

Montenegro had the lowest coverage with only 23% of children with their first Ror stroke, while seven countries around the world had rates less than 50%.

The United Kingdom is the most efficient among the nations of the G7, according to data. Only 89% of children received their first JAB MMR in 2024, against 96% in Germany, 95% in France, Italy and Japan and 92% in the United States and Canada.

Breakdown cases reported in the world continue to increase. The WHO / UNICEF estimates that there were around 10 million cases and more than 100,000 deaths per measuring in 2023. The number of countries declaring significant and disruptive epidemics has almost doubled from 33 in 2022 to 60 in 2024. Cases in Europe have doubled in 2024 and the United States, they have reached a three-year summit.

UNICEF has warned that without concerted action, millions of other children could die or fall seriously sick from measles. Ephrem Tekle Lemango, the head of immunization at UNICEF, said that if more children were vaccinated overall and that global coverage “increased”, progress “did not follow the pace of the threat”.

He said, “In 2024 only, more than 20 million children missed their first dose of measles and almost 12 million missed their second – leaving dangerous immunity that continues to fuel epidemics.

“Measles is one of the most contagious viruses we face. Even the low coverage decrees, in particular in communities affected by low conflicts, travel or health systems, can trigger devastating overvoltages. To protect each child, we must reach 95% coverage with two doses in each district, in all countries. Until we take millions of children.

Infantile immunization rates for other transmitted diseases also remain at pre-countryic rates, well in reserve of the 95% necessary for the immunity of the herd. In total, 115 million infants and young children (89% of the total) received at least one dose of diphtheria, tetanus and darling (DTP) JAB in 2024, while 85% had the three. Vaccination rates for polio and hepatitis B decreased to 93% and 91% respectively.

Dr. Hans Kloge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, said: “Last year, nearly 300,000 people had a whooping in our region, more than one triple increase in the previous year. Meanwhile, more than 125,000 people took measles in 2024 – twice more than 2023. These are not only figures, which could warn.

“Vaccines save lives and when coverage drops, the disease spreads. This is why countries must invest in solid local health systems, guarantee that vaccines are available and accessible in all neighborhoods and fight against disinformation. ”

Sabrina Bacci, from the European Center for Prevention and Control of Diseases, said: “Solid routine vaccination systems are the best tool we have to protect us from diseases that can be avoided by safe and effective vaccines. In this way, we protect ourselves and communities that cannot be immune to diseases such as theater, including children who are too young to be vaccinated or those who cannot be immunized for medical reasons, including children who are too young to be vaccinated or those who cannot be immune to medical reasons.

“Vaccination is not only an act of self -protection, but solidarity at the same time – and which offers immediate and long -term advantages.”