International agencies, including the World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund, and Gavi Vaccine Alliance, warned on Thursday that funding cuts, misinformation, and humanitarian crises are threatening immunization efforts globally.
These warnings coincide with the beginning of World Immunization Week.
The agencies reported that misinformation is significantly impacting the vaccination rates and efforts to protect against vaccine-preventable diseases.
The organizations noted that humanitarian crises have exacerbated the challenges in maintaining successful immunization programs.
According to reports, funding cuts are making it increasingly difficult to achieve vaccination targets necessary for herd immunity.
The agencies stressed that, without urgent government action and investment, millions of children, adolescents, and adults remain at risk of diseases like measles and meningitis.
Data indicates that only 64% of Filipino children aged 0-12 months are fully vaccinated, which is well below the 95% target for effective herd immunity.
Global health leaders continue to call for sustained investments in immunization initiatives to safeguard progress made over decades.
Agencies and health officials urge governments to prioritize vaccination within broader health frameworks to ensure long-term success.
The statement from the three organizations served as a call to action, urging a united global response to the challenges facing immunization efforts today.