UN warns of surge in vaccine-preventable diseases amid funding cuts, misinformation

The United Nations, along with global health partners, has raised alarms over a sharp rise in outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, meningitis, and yellow fever worldwide. 

The warning comes as misinformation and cuts to international health aid undermine decades of progress in immunization efforts.

Speaking at the start of World Immunization Week, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the Gavi vaccine alliance highlighted a troubling increase in disease cases and called for urgent action. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives over the last 50 years, but noted that recent funding reductions are now endangering those achievements.

"These outbreaks are putting lives at risk and driving up the cost of treating diseases," Tedros said in a joint statement released Wednesday.

Measles has been identified as a major concern, with a resurgence underway since 2021. In 2023 alone, an estimated 10.3 million measles cases were reported—marking a 20% increase from the previous year. The disease has now been reported in 138 countries over the past year, with 61 experiencing large or disruptive outbreaks, the most since 2019.

Meningitis and yellow fever cases have also surged in parts of Africa this year, according to the organizations.

The rise in outbreaks is being fueled by a combination of growing misinformation, conflict-driven humanitarian crises, and expanding global populations. At the same time, health officials say funding cuts are hampering efforts to reach vulnerable communities—especially in fragile or conflict-affected regions.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said, “The global funding crisis is severely limiting our ability to vaccinate more than 15 million vulnerable children against measles.”

Despite efforts to recover from immunization disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of children missing routine vaccinations has continued to grow. In 2023, 14.5 million children missed all of their standard vaccine doses, up from 13.9 million in 2022.

With the situation worsening, Gavi is urging donors to commit at least $9 billion at its upcoming pledging summit on June 25. The funds aim to support vaccination campaigns that could protect 500 million children and save an estimated 8 million lives between 2026 and 2030.

SR