UN: Global Vaccine Outbreaks Demand Urgent Action

The World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the Gavi vaccine alliance warned on Wednesday that outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases—including measles, meningitis, and yellow fever—are increasing worldwide. The alert coincides with the start of World Immunization Week (April 24–30), as health leaders urge renewed investment in vaccination programs to reverse the troubling trend.

"Vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives over the past five decades. Yet funding cuts to global health are putting these hard-won gains in jeopardy," said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a statement.

Measles Resurgence and Missed Vaccinations

Measles cases surged by 20% in 2023, reaching 10.3 million infections—a figure expected to climb further in 2024 and 2025. Last year, 138 countries reported measles cases, with 61 experiencing outbreaks, marking the highest tally since 2019.

"The global funding crisis is severely limiting our ability to vaccinate more than 15 million vulnerable children in fragile and conflict-affected regions against measles," said Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s Executive Director.

Additionally, 14.5 million children missed all routine vaccine doses in 2023, compounding setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meningitis and Yellow Fever Rebound in Africa

In Africa, meningitis and yellow fever are making a dangerous comeback. The first three months of 2025 saw 5,500 meningitis cases and 300 deaths across 22 countries, following 26,000 cases and 1,400 deaths in 2024.

Yellow fever, which had declined over the past decade, re-emerged with 124 confirmed cases in 12 African nations last year. Cases have also been detected in the Americas.

Urgent Call for Funding

Gavi, the vaccine alliance, is seeking at least $9 billion at its June 25 pledging summit to protect 500 million children and save 8 million lives between 2026 and 2030. The appeal comes amid shrinking health budgets, vaccine misinformation, and competing crises like the war in Gaza.

Health experts stress that vaccines remain one of the most cost-effective public health tools, with every $1 invested yielding an estimated $54 in economic and health benefits.

WHO and UNICEF are urging governments, donors, and the public to bolster immunization programs before preventable diseases spiral further out of control.