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Global Vaccine Coverage in Crisis
Are vaccine-preventable diseases rising?
Context: In a joint statement, by the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, and Gavi calls for immediate and sustained political commitment to restore and expand vaccination programmes.
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Global health leaders have raised an urgent alarm over the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, meningitis, and yellow fever, driven by widespread disruptions in immunisation campaigns, shrinking donor funds, misinformation, and conflict.
Why Alarm Bells Are Ringing?
- A recent WHO stocktake of 108 countries, mostly in low- and lower-middle-income groups, revealed that nearly half are experiencing moderate to severe disruptions in routine immunisation and disease surveillance.
- This is especially troubling given the growing number of “zero-dose” children — those who have received no vaccinations at all.
- In 2023, 14.5 million children missed all their vaccine doses, up from 13.9 million in 2022 and 12.9 million in 2019.
- Over 50% of these children live in areas affected by conflict, fragility, or instability, where access to healthcare is poor.
- Even high-income countries are seeing disease resurgence. In the United States, over 935 cases of measles have been reported as of May 1 — a figure triple that of 2024, despite the disease being declared eliminated in 2000.
- WHO chief Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that funding cuts to global health threaten decades of hard-won progress, saying, “Countries with limited resources must invest in the highest-impact interventions — and that includes vaccines.”
Why Does Vaccination Matters?
- Vaccination is widely regarded as a “best buy” in health:
- It delivers a return of $54 for every $1 invested, according to WHO.
- Over the past 50 years, vaccines have saved 154 million lives, or six every minute.
- Vaccines account for 40% of the improvement in infant survival, with the measles vaccine alone saving 60% of these lives.
- Globally, vaccines prevent 4.2 million deaths annually across 14 major diseases.
India’s Immunisation Journey
- India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) is one of the world’s largest public health initiatives, targeting: 26 million newborns and 34 million pregnant women every year. Hosting over 13 million immunisation sessions across the country.
- The country has achieved significant milestones:
- Polio-free certification in 2014
- Elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus in 2015
- Introduction of new vaccines like Measles-Rubella (MR), Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), and Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV)
- However, challenges remain. One in four Indian children still misses essential vaccines, with full immunisation coverage at 76.1%, according to the National Family Health Survey (2019–21).
The Road Ahead: Political Will and Global Commitment
- Parents and communities to support immunisation and combat misinformation.
- Governments to prioritise funding for immunisation, especially through the Immunisation Agenda 2030.
- Donors to contribute generously at Gavi’s June 25 pledging summit, which aims to raise $9 billion to protect 500 million children and save eight million lives between 2026–2030.
- UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell highlighted the stakes: “The global funding crisis is severely limiting our ability to vaccinate over 15 million vulnerable children in fragile and conflict-affec ted countries against measles.”
