Preventable diseases on the rise as vaccinations fall

In the context of World Immunization Week, the United Nations and the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) have expressed concern over the rise in vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, meningitis, and yellow fever. This resurgence has been attributed to the dissemination of misinformation, humanitarian crises, population growth, and reductions in international aid. This concern was also expressed by the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Recent years have seen a resurgence in the number of measles cases, with estimates indicating that in 2023 alone, the total reached approximately 10.3 million cases, marking a 20 per cent increase compared to the previous year. In the preceding year, 138 countries reported measles cases, including 61 with significant outbreaks. Furthermore, a notable surge in meningitis and yellow fever cases was observed across Africa in 2024. Catherine Russell, the Executive Director of UNICEF, has expressed profound concern regarding the disruption of immunisation programmes, epidemiological surveillance, and outbreak response services in almost 50 countries. In advance of the pledging conference scheduled for 25 June, Gavi has issued a call for a minimum of $9 billion to ensure vaccination coverage for 500 million children, to save a minimum of 8 million lives over the five years from 2026 to 2030.