The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised fresh concerns over the growing number of children who are missing out on vital vaccinations across the world. According to the organisation, more than 30 million children did not receive the full set of vaccines they needed in 2024.
This revelation was made by the WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during an online press conference that focused on key global health issues.
Dr. Ghebreyesus said the situation is worrisome and highlighted measles as one of the major threats to child health globally. He revealed that in 2024 alone, 60 countries experienced major outbreaks of measles, almost twice the number of countries that recorded outbreaks in 2022. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to man and can be deadly, especially in children who are unvaccinated or undernourished.
He explained that while lack of access to vaccines is a big challenge in many low-income and conflict-affected countries, vaccine hesitancy is also becoming a growing problem in other parts of the world. Vaccine hesitancy refers to people’s reluctance or refusal to take vaccines even when they are available, often due to misinformation, fear, or distrust.
“WHO and many other health organisations have information on their websites to help families understand how vaccines work,” he said, adding that vaccines have saved millions of lives since the development of the first smallpox vaccine over 200 years ago.
According to the WHO boss, the organisation’s latest joint report with UNICEF on national immunisation coverage shows mixed results. While there has been a small improvement in vaccine coverage, about 14.3 million children did not receive even a single dose of any vaccine in 2024. In addition, millions more only received partial doses, meaning they are not fully protected from deadly diseases like polio, measles, and diphtheria.
Dr. Ghebreyesus said that children living in areas plagued by conflict, war, or natural disasters are the most at risk of missing these life-saving immunisations. He called on governments and health organisations to do more to reach these vulnerable populations.
In a more positive development, the WHO chief announced a major step forward in the fight against HIV. On July 14, the WHO launched new guidelines for the use of Lenacapavir, a powerful HIV prevention drug. He described the medicine as a breakthrough, explaining that just one injection of Lenacapavir can protect someone from HIV for six months.
The WHO is working with nine countries that have agreed to start using the drug early. The goal is to reach up to two million people with Lenacapavir in the first phase, using a lower, negotiated price. He said that six generic drug companies are already working to produce cheaper versions, which will be available by 2027.
“This medicine could help reduce new HIV infections by over 96 per cent,” Dr. Ghebreyesus said.
He also celebrated some recent achievements by WHO in the area of disease control. He said Suriname in South America has officially been declared malaria-free, becoming the 47th country or territory to achieve this status. He also announced that Burundi and Senegal in Africa have successfully eliminated trachoma, a painful eye disease, as a public health threat.
So far, 57 countries have now eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease, a major milestone in global health.
Looking ahead, Dr. Ghebreyesus reminded the public that July 25 is World Drowning Prevention Day. He said that every year, hundreds of thousands of people die from drowning, especially children in low- and middle-income countries. Most of these deaths are preventable, he noted, urging communities to adopt low-cost, evidence-based methods to save lives, such as teaching children how to swim, using life jackets, and creating barriers around open water.
The WHO says it will continue to work with countries, health partners, and communities to improve global health, expand vaccine access, and prevent avoidable deaths around the world.
