In 2024, over 14 million children across the globe did not receive any vaccine doses, as reported by the UN agencies World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF on Tuesday, based on new national immunisation coverage data. The findings indicated that nearly 20 million infants missed at least one dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP)-containing vaccine last year, jeopardizing decades of advancements. Additionally, more than 30 million children remained inadequately protected against measles, resulting in an increase in significant or disruptive outbreaks. The number of countries facing large or disruptive measles outbreaks surged to 60 in 2024, nearly doubling from 33 in 2022. The report attributed this situation to limited access to immunisation services, supply disruptions, conflict, instability, and misinformation regarding vaccines, which left many children unvaccinated or under-vaccinated. “Vaccines save lives, enabling individuals, families, communities, economies, and nations to thrive,” stated WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He emphasized that the missed doses were a consequence of “drastic cuts in aid, combined with misinformation about vaccine safety.” Furthermore, the report highlighted that global childhood vaccination coverage remained stable, with approximately 171,000 more children receiving at least one vaccine compared to 2023, and one million more completing the full three-dose DTP series. In 2024, 89 percent of infants worldwide – approximately 115 million – received at least one dose of the DTP-containing vaccine, while 85 percent – around 109 million – completed all three doses. Coverage for measles also saw improvement, with 84 percent of children receiving the first dose and 76 percent receiving the second dose, reflecting a slight increase from the previous year.