Overview

• UNICEF, WHO, and Gavi report that U.S.-led aid cuts have disrupted vaccination efforts in nearly half of low-income countries, likening the impact to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Measles cases surged by 20% in 2023, reaching 10.3 million globally, the highest since 2019, with outbreaks reported in 138 countries.
• In early 2025, over 5,500 meningitis cases and 300 deaths were recorded across 22 African nations, while yellow fever cases rose in 12 countries in 2024 after years of decline.
• Funding cuts have reduced vaccine supplies and weakened disease surveillance systems, leaving millions of children unvaccinated and vulnerable to preventable diseases.
• Gavi is seeking $9 billion at its June pledging summit to protect 500 million children and prevent further backsliding in global immunization efforts.