World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that over 30 million children worldwide have not completed their required measles vaccinations.
Speaking at a virtual press conference on global health concerns, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus highlighted a slight increase in global measles vaccination coverage in 2024. However, he noted a worrying rise in measles outbreaks, with 60 countries reporting significant cases in 2024, nearly twice as many as in 2022.
“Limited access to vaccines remains a major challenge, compounded by vaccine hesitancy in some communities,” Ghebreyesus said.
He emphasized that WHO and other public health bodies provide extensive resources online to educate families about the importance of vaccines, which have saved countless lives since the smallpox vaccine was developed over two centuries ago.
According to a recent joint WHO-UNICEF report on global immunization coverage, while there has been some progress, approximately 14.3 million children have never received a single vaccine dose, and millions more are only partially vaccinated. Children in conflict zones or areas facing humanitarian crises are particularly vulnerable to missing critical immunizations.
On another note, Ghebreyesus announced the introduction of WHO’s new guidelines for Lenacapavir, a revolutionary HIV prevention drug. This injectable medication, effective for six months, reduces new HIV infections by over 96 percent. WHO is collaborating with nine early-adopter countries to make Lenacapavir accessible at reduced prices, with plans for generic versions to become widely available by 2027.
WHO is also supporting these countries through guidelines and pre-qualification processes to ensure the drug’s effective rollout. Additionally, Ghebreyesus celebrated Suriname’s certification as malaria-free, marking it the 47th country to achieve this status. Burundi and Senegal were also recognized for eliminating trachoma as a public health issue, bringing the total number of countries that have eradicated at least one neglected tropical disease to 57.
Ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25, Ghebreyesus highlighted the tragic loss of hundreds of thousands of lives to drowning annually, particularly among children and young people in low- and middle-income countries. He stressed that most of these deaths are preventable and that WHO is working globally to promote affordable, evidence-based solutions to protect communities and save lives. (NAN)
