Why Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Are Rising Again
Global health agencies — WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi — have issued a joint warning that diseases such as measles, meningitis, and yellow fever are making a comeback due to:
- Massive drops in immunisation coverage
- Reduced donor funding and disrupted supply chains
- Misinformation, humanitarian crises, and population growth
Key Alarming Findings
- WHO’s survey of 108 countries (mainly low/lower-middle income) found:
- Nearly 50% face moderate to severe disruptions in immunisation campaigns
- Over half have weakened disease surveillance systems
- In 2023, 14.5 million children missed all routine vaccines, up from 13.9 million in 2022 and 12.9 million in 2019
- Over half of unvaccinated children live in fragile/conflict-hit regions
- Measles outbreak in the U.S.: 935 cases reported as of May 1, 2025 — triple 2024 figures
Vaccination: A Proven High-Return Investment
- WHO: Immunisation offers a $54 return for every $1 spent
- 154 million lives saved in 50 years — six lives a minute
- Accounts for 40% improvement in infant survival rates
- Measles vaccine alone saved 60% of those lives
- Vaccines annually prevent 4.2 million deaths from 14 major diseases
India’s Progress Through Immunisation
- Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) targets:
- 26 million newborns and 34 million pregnant women annually
- 13 million immunisation sessions held each year
- Major milestones:
- Polio-free (2014) and tetanus eliminated (2015)
- National rollout of Measles-Rubella, PCV, and Rotavirus vaccines
- As per NFHS-5 (2019–21), India’s full immunisation coverage is 76.1% — meaning 1 in 4 children still miss essential vaccines
Urgent Actions Needed
- Governments must prioritise immunisation as a critical public health and economic investment
- Strengthen the ‘Big Catch-Up’ initiative and commit to the Immunisation Agenda 2030
- Gavi’s June 25, 2025 pledging summit seeks to raise $9 billion to:
- Protect 500 million children
- Save at least 8 million lives between 2026–2030
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