Oluwatobi Adu 
GENEVA – The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm over declining immunisation coverage in several countries, warning that falling vaccination rates are increasing the risk of disease outbreaks and leaving millions of children vulnerable to preventable illnesses.
The warning comes at the midpoint of the Immunization Agenda 2030; a global strategy aimed at expanding vaccine access and preventing infectious diseases.
In an update released on Tuesday, WHO Director of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, Dr. Kate O’Brien, said decades of progress in disease prevention are at risk of being reversed.
“Yet progress remains fragile. In too many countries, routine immunization coverage is slipping,” O’Brien warned.
She said outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases are occurring in more countries as growing numbers of children miss routine vaccinations.
The WHO cited misinformation, conflict, climate-related disruptions and funding constraints as major obstacles to immunisation efforts worldwide.
According to the agency, the number of “zero-dose” children — those who have never received a routine vaccine — remains a major concern, particularly in underserved communities.
O’Brien acknowledged that initiatives such as The Big Catch-Up have helped countries recover from vaccination disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Recovery alone is not enough. We must go further to reach chronically missed populations, debunk misinformation, build trust, and strengthen routine immunization programmes,” she said.
The WHO also emphasised the importance of improving outbreak preparedness through faster vaccine deployment, stronger surveillance systems and closer integration between immunisation and emergency response programmes.
The organisation highlighted growing evidence of the success of malaria vaccination programmes in Africa.
Studies conducted in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi found that the RTS, S malaria vaccine prevented an estimated one in eight child deaths among eligible children over a four-year period.
About the Author
Korede Abdullah 
