GENEVA – A new report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reveals that an estimated 14.3 million children globally remain completely unvaccinated, leaving them vulnerable to preventable diseases.
While this figure represents a decrease of 171,000 children since 2023, public health officials emphasize that the number is still unacceptably high. The report also highlights that an additional 5.7 million children have only partial protection, having missed some recommended doses within the vaccine series.
Public health experts point to children living in conflict zones and low- or middle-income countries as particularly susceptible to vaccine-preventable illnesses due to limited access to healthcare and vaccination programs.
Even in high-income nations, the report notes a concerning trend: vaccine hesitancy and a growing distrust in institutions have contributed to the resurgence of diseases like measles and polio, which were once largely under control. The organizations underscore the urgent need for renewed efforts to reach every child with life-saving immunizations and address the underlying factors contributing to vaccination gaps worldwide.
