UN Warns Global Immunisation System Showing Dangerous Signs Of Strain
The United Nations has issued a fresh warning that the global immunisation system is showing worrying signs of weakness, even as childhood vaccination rates recorded a slight improvement during 2025.
According to new estimates released by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, around 90 percent of infants worldwide received at least one dose of the vaccine protecting against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, while 85 percent completed the recommended three dose course. Although both figures increased slightly compared with the previous year, they remain below the vaccination levels recorded before the COVID 19 pandemic.
The report estimates that 13.5 million children received no vaccinations at all during their first year of life in 2025. While this represents an improvement over previous years, UN officials stressed that millions of children remain completely unprotected because of poverty, displacement, and humanitarian crises.
Health experts also expressed concern about children who begin vaccination programmes but fail to complete them. This growing number of incomplete immunisations has contributed to measles vaccination rates remaining well below the 95 percent coverage considered necessary to prevent major outbreaks. As a result, 57 countries reported significant measles outbreaks during 2025, with increases also recorded in cholera and diphtheria cases.
Officials warned that misinformation surrounding vaccines is making the situation worse in several regions by discouraging parents from completing immunisation schedules. They also highlighted that armed conflicts continue to disrupt healthcare services, leaving many communities without reliable access to routine vaccinations. More than half of the world's unvaccinated children are now living in countries affected by conflict and instability.
The World Health Organization also cautioned that the full impact of recent international funding cuts has yet to appear in the latest data. Experts fear that reductions in financial support for vaccination programmes and disease surveillance could result in even greater challenges during 2026, increasing the risk of preventable disease outbreaks across vulnerable populations.
UN agencies are calling on governments and international partners to strengthen investment in vaccination programmes, improve disease monitoring, and combat false information surrounding vaccines. They say sustained global cooperation will be essential to protect children and prevent further setbacks in one of the world's most successful public health initiatives.
Got a news story or tip to share? Contact our editorial team by emailing news@lakelandpost.co.uk or call us directly on 0333 090 2080.