Global health organizations are raising red flags over a troubling surge in vaccine-preventable diseases, with measles, meningitis, and yellow fever making significant comebacks. The warning, issued jointly by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the Gavi vaccine alliance, comes at the onset of World Immunization Week, held annually from April 24 to 30.
According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, over 150 million lives have been saved through Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in the past 50 years, but these gains are now at risk due to a growing funding crisis. “Funding cuts to global health have put these hard-won gains in jeopardy,” he emphasized.
The resurgence is particularly evident with measles, which saw a staggering 20% increase in cases over the past year, totaling 10.3 million in 2023. This marks the highest rate since 2019, with outbreaks reported in 61 countries and infections detected in 138 nations overall. Projections for 2024 and 2025 suggest this trend may worsen. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that more than 15 million vulnerable children in fragile and conflict-affected regions remain unvaccinated against measles due to the funding shortfall.
Rising Threats in Africa and Widening Gaps in Immunization
Beyond measles, the rise in meningitis and yellow fever is particularly concerning in African nations. In just the first quarter of 2025, over 5,500 meningitis cases and 300 related deaths have been reported across 22 African countries. For comparison, the entire year of 2024 saw 26,000 meningitis cases and nearly 1,400 deaths in 24 countries.
Yellow fever, which had been in decline over the past decade, has also reemerged as a public health threat. In 2024, 124 cases were reported across 12 African countries, reversing years of progress in disease control. Health experts attribute this resurgence to disrupted immunization efforts, often in areas grappling with humanitarian crises or conflict.
Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, stressed the urgent need for renewed funding and international cooperation. The organization is calling for $9 billion ahead of its pledging summit on June 25. This funding is aimed at protecting 500 million children and saving at least 8 million lives between 2026 and 2030.
Pandemic Aftershocks, Misinformation, and Political Cuts Exacerbate Crisis of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Efforts to resume routine childhood immunizations after the COVID-19 pandemic have faced numerous setbacks. In 2023 alone, 14.5 million children missed all of their scheduled vaccine doses. The situation has been exacerbated by widespread misinformation, Vaccine-Preventable Diseases hesitancy, and ongoing humanitarian emergencies like the war in Gaza.
Additionally, significant cuts to global aid programs—especially from the United States—have further strained immunization infrastructure. Under President Donald Trump, USAID funding for various health and humanitarian programs was slashed, worsening conditions in many low-income countries and disrupting critical vaccination campaigns.
The UN and its health partners are now urging governments, philanthropists, and international agencies to act swiftly. Without substantial support, decades of progress in global immunization could be undone, placing millions of lives at risk from preventable diseases.
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