Daijiworld Media Network – London

London, Jun 25: Progress in vaccinating children against deadly diseases has stalled globally and even declined in several countries, leaving millions of children vulnerable to preventable illnesses, according to a major study published in The Lancet. The situation, worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic, is being described by experts as a "perfect storm" of health risks.

Since 1974, global immunisation efforts have saved an estimated 150 million lives. But the study reveals that since 2010, vaccination progress has stagnated, and by 2023, nearly 16 million children—mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia—remained completely unvaccinated.

Dr Jonathan Mosser from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington, said global inequalities, pandemic disruptions, and rising vaccine misinformation have derailed immunisation gains. Measles vaccine coverage alone has dropped in nearly 100 countries.

Experts warn that both poorer and wealthier nations are seeing declines. “More children will be hospitalised, permanently damaged, and die from fully preventable diseases if the trend is not reversed,” said Prof Sir Andrew Pollard of the Oxford Vaccine Group.

Dr David Elliman from University College London added that war, civil unrest, and cuts in foreign aid by nations like the US and UK are compounding the crisis. He criticised decisions driven by “ill-informed opinion rather than science.”

Researchers urge governments to strengthen healthcare systems, combat misinformation, and ensure equitable vaccine access to prevent a resurgence of deadly diseases.