More than 14 million children worldwide did not receive a single routine vaccine last year, according to a joint report released Tuesday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The number remains unchanged from 2023, highlighting a worrying stagnation in global immunization efforts.The annual estimate of global vaccine coverage found that 89% of children under one year received the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine in 2024 — the same as in the previous year. However, only 85% completed the full three-dose series, a slight rise from 84% in 2023.Despite modest gains, officials warn that progress is faltering due to geopolitical shifts, humanitarian crises, and rising vaccine misinformation.Foreign Aid Cuts Threaten Vaccine ProgramsThe report comes amid a sharp pullback in international health funding, particularly from the United States. Earlier this year, President Trump officially withdrew U.S. membership from the WHO, suspended most humanitarian aid, and moved to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).Further compounding the issue, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, recently announced the withdrawal of billions of dollars pledged to Gavi, the global vaccine alliance. He accused the group of “ignoring the science,” despite overwhelming evidence that vaccines are safe and effective.These decisions are expected to significantly impact global vaccine rollouts, especially in low-income countries.Who's Being Left Behind?Nine countries accounted for 52% of all unvaccinated children in 2024. These include:NigeriaIndiaSudanDemocratic Republic of CongoEthiopiaIndonesiaYemenAfghanistanAngolaAmong them, Sudan reported the lowest coverage for DTP vaccines — a reflection of the country’s ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis. WHO officials said war, displacement, and weak health systems are major barriers to vaccination.“Access to vaccines remains deeply unequal,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Drastic cuts in aid, coupled with misinformation about vaccine safety, threaten to unwind decades of progress.”Measles on the Rise Amid Lagging CoverageThe report showed a slight improvement in global measles vaccination rates, with 76% of children receiving both doses — up from previous years. But experts warn this is far below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks of this highly contagious disease.In 2024 alone, 60 countries reported large measles outbreaks. The United States is currently experiencing its worst measles outbreak in over 30 years, while Europe recorded 125,000 cases, more than double the 2023 count.Last week, a child in Liverpool, UK, died of measles. Despite ongoing public awareness campaigns, only 84% of children in the U.K. are vaccinated against the disease.“It’s Never Too Late to Be Vaccinated”Experts are urging families and governments to act. “It is hugely concerning, but not at all surprising, that we are continuing to see outbreaks of measles,” said Helen Bradford, a children’s health professor at University College London. “The only way to stop measles spreading is with vaccination. It is never too late to be vaccinated — even as an adult.”