Overview

• A Lancet analysis shows nearly 13 million additional children missed their first vaccine dose between 2020 and 2023, leaving 15.7 million entirely unvaccinated, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia
• Economic disparities, service interruptions during the pandemic and surging vaccine misinformation have eroded coverage of diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles and other key childhood immunizations
• Measles cases in the EU jumped nearly tenfold in 2024 versus 2023 and the US reported over 1 000 confirmed cases last month while polio is resurfacing in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Papua New Guinea
• Experts warn global child mortality could rise in 2025 for the first time in decades after deep cuts to US international aid and stretched immunization budgets
• Gavi aims to raise $9 billion for its 2026-2030 programs and the WHO has set a target to vaccinate 90 percent of children and adolescents by 2030