Millions of children worldwide are at increasing risk of serious illness and death due to declining infant vaccination rates.
By Aniket Chakraborty
July 31, 2025
SCIENCE
According to new figures from WHO and UNICEF, more than 30 million children are not fully immunised against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).
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In addition, 14.3 million children have not received a single routine infant vaccination, increasing vulnerability to diseases.
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The decline is notably severe in middle- and high-income countries, with some regions showing stagnation in vaccination rates.
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The UK is the worst performer among G7 nations, with only 89% of children receiving their first MMR jab in 2024, a significant drop from previous years.
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In Europe and Central Asia, vaccination coverage fell by 1%, and in 2024, over half of countries did not meet the 95% vaccination rate required for herd immunity.
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WHO and UNICEF report about 10 million measles cases and 100,000 deaths globally in 2023, with disruptive outbreaks nearly doubling in 2024.
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Experts warn that unless urgent action is taken, millions more children will die or fall seriously ill from preventable diseases like measles.
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UNICEF emphasizes the need to achieve 95% coverage in every district and country to stop the spread of measles and other communicable diseases.
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Vaccines save lives—strong routine immunisation systems and combating misinformation are crucial to safeguarding children’s health globally.