Summary
Over 14 million children did not get any vaccines last year. Nine countries accounted for more than half of these cases. Despite stable vaccination rates for certain diseases, global efforts may face challenges due to a decline in international aid and misinformation about vaccine safety.
Key Facts
- More than 14 million children were not vaccinated last year.
- Nine countries made up over half of these unvaccinated children: Nigeria, India, Sudan, Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Angola.
- Vaccination rates for diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough stayed steady at 89% for the first dose, with 85% completing all three doses.
- U.S. decisions to cut international aid may hinder global vaccination efforts.
- Vaccines save between 3.5 million to 5 million lives each year.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that vaccine access is very uneven across different regions.
- Measles vaccination rates need to be at 95% to prevent outbreaks, but only 76% of children worldwide are fully vaccinated.
- WHO reported large measles outbreaks in 60 countries last year, with notable increases in the U.S. and Europe.
