Conflict zones pose a significant threat to global vaccination efforts, with an estimated 14.3 million children remaining unvaccinated worldwide. The World Health Organization and UNICEF’s latest report highlights the challenges faced by countries in providing immunizations to children living in fragile, vulnerable, and conflict-affected areas.
According to the report, nine countries – Nigeria, India, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Angola – account for 52% of all children who have never received a dose of vaccine. Rising conflicts and war zones have eroded progress in providing immunizations, with children living in these areas being three times more likely to be unvaccinated compared to those in stable countries.
Vaccine hesitancy and misinformation are also contributing factors, particularly in high-income countries where outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and polio have been reported. The report notes that the US has announced plans to reduce funding for global vaccination efforts, further exacerbating the challenges faced by countries in providing vaccines to those who need them most.
Despite these challenges, there are some positive trends, such as improvements in HPV vaccine coverage. In 2024, an estimated 31% of girls and 28% of all children received their first dose of the HPV vaccine, with significant increases seen in Nigeria, Bangladesh, and four other countries.
The report emphasizes that addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach, including increased funding for global vaccination efforts, improved access to vaccines, and targeted interventions to address misinformation and vaccine hesitancy. With the estimated 14 million children remaining unvaccinated worldwide, the need for urgent action has never been more pressing.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/14/health/children-unvaccinated-global-report-who-unicef