Efforts to protect millions through vaccines are now in danger, as surging outbreaks, shrinking funds, and rising misinformation threaten decades of immunisation progress, global health leaders warn.
The World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, issued a stark warning on Thursday during World Immunisation Week (April 24–30), urging world leaders to act fast before the world loses ground in the fight against preventable diseases.
“Vaccines have saved over 150 million lives in the last 50 years,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, “but funding cuts now put this success in serious danger.”
Preventable Diseases Are Coming Back
Diseases like measles, meningitis, diphtheria, and yellow fever, once nearly eliminated, are making a comeback, with measles posing the greatest risk.
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Measles cases reached 10.3 million globally in 2023, a 20% rise from the year before.
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In just 12 months, 138 countries reported cases, and 61 countries faced large or disruptive outbreaks, the highest since 2019.
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Meningitis cases in Africa also rose sharply in 2024, with over 5,500 suspected cases and 300 deaths in just the first three months of 2025.
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Yellow fever outbreaks have returned to both Africa and the Americas, with over 250 confirmed cases reported so far this year.
Vaccine Campaigns Disrupted in Nearly 50 Countries
A WHO survey found that nearly half of low- and middle-income countries are experiencing moderate to severe disruptions in routine vaccination services. Stockouts, staff shortages, and funding cuts are making it harder to reach the most vulnerable, especially children in conflict-affected or fragile regions.
“Immunisation, disease surveillance, and outbreak response in nearly 50 countries are already being affected,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
“These setbacks are on par with what we saw during COVID-19. We can’t afford to go backwards.”
15 Million Children at Risk
An estimated 15 million children in crisis-hit countries are missing routine measles vaccinations. Without urgent action, more lives could be lost to diseases that are entirely preventable.
Despite efforts by WHO, Gavi, UNICEF, and local governments to catch up after pandemic disruptions, the number of unvaccinated children continues to grow each year.
“These rising outbreaks are a global concern,” said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi.
“The good news? We can stop them, but only if we have enough funding to act.”
$9 Billion Needed to Protect 500 Million Children
To fight back, Gavi is launching a new strategic plan to strengthen global defences against outbreaks. This includes:
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Expanding global vaccine stockpiles
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Targeting high-risk countries with preventive campaigns
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Supporting routine immunisation through primary health care
To fund this plan, Gavi is holding a high-level pledging summit on June 25, 2025, aiming to raise at least $9 billion to protect 500 million children and save 8 million lives between 2026 and 2030.
What’s at Stake?
If the world fails to act now, decades of hard-won progress could unravel. Vaccines save nearly 4.2 million lives every year, nearly half of them in Africa, but those numbers could fall without global cooperation and sustained investment.
The UN and Gavi are calling on governments, donors, and communities to:
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Strengthen support for routine immunisation
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Invest in disease surveillance and outbreak response
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Fund the Immunisation Agenda 2030
“We have the tools, we have the knowledge, what we need now is the commitment,” said Dr Nishtar.
“The world cannot afford another preventable health crisis.”
