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 Programs

The 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:

• Nigeria
• India
• Sudan
• Democratic Republic of Congo
• Ethiopia
• Indonesia
• Yemen
• Afghanistan
• Angola

Among 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 Coverage

The 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.”

England will take a breakthrough step in child healthcare as the National Health Service (NHS) is getting ready to provide free chickenpox vaccinations to children from January 2026. For the first time, chickenpox immunity will be added to the childhood immunisation programme, and it will protect approximately half a million children annually, cutting the disruption caused by the disease that is common yet potentially severe.

The plan by the government includes providing children who are eligible with a combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine through regular GP visits. Not only does the rollout safeguard against chickenpox, which is clinically referred to as varicella, but it also enhances protection against three other highly infectious diseases. The MMRV vaccine should contribute to fewer missed school days, decreased parental absence from work, and cost savings in treatments for the NHS. Estimates put chickenpox in childhood costing the UK around £24 million a year in lost work and productivity, with NHS treatment itself an additional £15 million.

Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, highlighted the impact of this initiative, stating that the vaccine prioritises children’s health while supporting working families. “We’re giving parents the power to protect their children from chickenpox and its serious complications, while keeping them in nursery or the classroom where they belong,” he said.

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella zoster virus and is highly contagious. Although most children have a mild illness that is typical of an itchy rash, fever, and pains, the disease has serious consequences in some instances such as bacterial infection, pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, stroke, and rarely death. Adults who are not infected are at greater risk of serious illness. After being infected with chickenpox, the virus lies dormant and may later in life become shingles. The UK has had a universal shingles vaccination programme in place since 2013 for older adults.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, the UK Health Security Agency's Deputy Director of Immunisation, emphasized that although most parents consider chickenpox to be a mild condition, the vaccine can actually be lifesaving for children who are experiencing severe symptoms. She further added, "The programme will have a really positive impact on the health of young children and also lead to fewer missed nursery and school days."

Why NHS Has Made A Evidence-Based Decision?

The vaccination with the MMRV is informed by expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Their advice is supported by evidence that shows that serious chickenpox can have a serious effect on children's health, increase the number of hospital admissions, and place additional costs on the health system. Private varicella vaccine is currently priced at about £150 for two doses, but the NHS initiative will make it free to immunize the selected children, promoting broader coverage and equity.

Learning from Global Experience

Such nations as the United States, Canada, Germany, and Australia have already added the chickenpox vaccine to their childhood immunization schedules and witnessed significant reduction in chickenpox incidence and hospitalizations related to it. In the United States alone, the CDC estimates that over a span of 25 years, their program prevented 91 million illnesses, 238,000 hospitalizations, and 2,000 deaths. England's move to introduce the MMRV vaccine will align the nation with these global standards.

Shielding the Most Vulnerable

The programme will shield children against serious complications in addition to safeguarding vulnerable groups like pregnant women and immunocompromised patients. The MMRV vaccine helps provide community immunity, which lessens varicella virus circulation and avoids infection among the unvaccinable.

Integration with Larger Health Initiatives

The chickenpox vaccine roll-out is one of the key elements of the government's "Plan for Change," aimed at improving the healthiest-ever generation of children in England and moving the NHS from treating to preventing ill health. It is aligned with other measures in the 10-Year Health Plan, including free school meals, mental health care, and dentistry. The Department for Education's recent Best Start Family Hubs announcement also seeks to offer further support for families, providing an extra half a million more children with the best possible start in life.

Practical Implementation

Eligible children will be given the MMRV vaccine as part of the normal infant schedule. Parents will be contacted by GP surgeries to make appointments, making the process simple. Clinical advice will dictate age bands and timing to ensure optimal effectiveness. By including the vaccine within standard GP visits, the NHS guarantees high uptake with minimal disruption to families.

Introduction of the MMRV vaccine is a major departure from traditional methods, including so-called "chickenpox parties," where kids were deliberately infected with the virus to develop immunity. Contemporary immunisation practices emphasize safety, efficacy, and prevention of complications.

This move marks England's proactive measure in public health, focusing on prevention and lifelong well-being for children. According to Amanda Doyle, the National Director for Primary Care and Community Services at NHS England, "This is a very welcome moment for families as the NHS prepares to offer a vaccine to give children protection against chickenpox for the first time, complementing the range of other routine jabs that offer protection against serious illness.

By cutting hospitalizations, avoiding complications, and caring for families, the introduction of the MMRV vaccine will have a revolutionary effect on children's health in England. With half a million children to be helped each year, this program is not only about stopping a mild childhood disease; it's a move toward a healthier, more resilient future generation.

Australia is facing its largest whooping cough outbreak in more than three decades, with medical leaders sounding an urgent alarm: vaccination is the only reliable shield. Whooping cough, or pertussis, is not a new disease, but it is making a dramatic comeback. In 2024, more than 57,000 cases were reported across Australia the highest number since 1991. And the wave has not slowed. In South Australia, early 2025 data show over 1,000 infections — more than ten times higher than the same period last year.

The national disease surveillance dashboard reports nearly 19,000 cases already in 2025, with hotspots including Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia’s Kimberley region. Doctors say this is now Australia’s most significant and long-lasting pertussis outbreak in decades.

Pertussis is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It spreads easily through coughs and sneezes, thriving in close-contact settings such as households and schools. For most adults, it causes weeks of relentless coughing that disrupts sleep, work, and quality of life. But for infants — especially those too young to be vaccinated it can be life-threatening.

Newborns can develop severe respiratory distress, pneumonia, and even brain damage from prolonged oxygen deprivation during coughing fits. Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that pertussis kills tens of thousands of children every year, most of them under six months old.

AMA’s Urgent Call

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has issued a clear warning: complacency is dangerous. AMA President Dr. Danielle McMullen described the outbreak as “extremely concerning,” citing both the sheer scale of cases and the drop in vaccination coverage.

“We can’t afford to be complacent,” Dr. McMullen said. “Each year, thousands of lives are lost to respiratory diseases like whooping cough — and we all have a role to play in preventing their spread. Vaccination remains our most powerful defence.”

Why Pregnancy Vaccination is Crucial?

One of the AMA’s strongest messages is directed at expectant mothers. A pertussis-containing vaccine is recommended during every pregnancy, ideally between 20 and 32 weeks. This approach allows protective antibodies to pass from mother to baby through the placenta, shielding the newborn during the critical first weeks of life.

“Maternal vaccination creates antibodies which are passed to the unborn baby and protect them in their first days and weeks of life,” Dr. McMullen explained. “But it doesn’t stop there — ensuring family members and other caregivers are also vaccinated helps create a protective cocoon around infants.”

This cocooning strategy reduces the risk that parents, grandparents, siblings, or caregivers will transmit the infection to newborns who are too young to complete their first immunization schedule.

Vaccines Are Free and Accessible

In Australia, whooping cough vaccines are free for all pregnant women under the National Immunisation Program. Parents are also encouraged to keep their children’s vaccines up to date, particularly during the first six months, when infants are most vulnerable.

For adults, boosters are recommended every 10 years, especially for anyone living with or caring for babies. General practitioners and pharmacies can check vaccination records and provide catch-up doses when needed.

Falling Vaccination Rates and Rising Cases

Part of what makes this outbreak alarming is its timing. Australia has not met its childhood vaccination targets in several regions, and vaccine hesitancy has crept upward in recent years. This leaves pockets of communities vulnerable, creating fertile ground for pertussis to spread.

The AMA warns that failing to address this could undo decades of progress in reducing serious childhood diseases. “Getting vaccinated is one of the simplest and most effective ways you can protect your loved ones and your community,” Dr. McMullen said.

Learning From History

Australia has seen waves of whooping cough before. The last major epidemic peaked in 2011 with over 38,000 cases. But today’s surge is different in scale, surpassing even that crisis and persisting longer. Globally, other countries have also seen cyclical rises in pertussis, underscoring that this is not just an Australian problem.

The key difference between a contained outbreak and a devastating one is vaccination coverage. Experts point to herd immunity thresholds: when enough people are vaccinated, the chain of transmission breaks, protecting those who cannot be immunized.

Though the latest figures come from Australia, health experts stress that this is a global concern. Travel and migration mean outbreaks do not remain confined to national borders. Declining vaccination rates in parts of the United States and Europe could set the stage for similar resurgences.

For families worldwide, the lessons are clear: stay up to date on vaccinations, encourage maternal immunization, and understand that diseases once considered “childhood illnesses of the past” can and do return if immunity gaps open.

Australia’s pertussis outbreak is a wake-up call for all of us. With more than 57,000 cases in a single year and rates still climbing, whooping cough has proven it can resurge when vaccination rates slip.

The AMA’s message is urgent but simple: act now. Pregnant women, parents, and caregivers should prioritize immunization to protect both themselves and those too young to be vaccinated. Free vaccines are available, and the science is clear immunization saves lives. As Dr. McMullen put it, “We must not lose sight of the fact that immunisation saves lives.”

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the most common health problems worldwide yet also one of the most stubborn to control. Despite decades of new drugs and treatment combinations, millions of people remain unable to bring their blood pressure down to safe levels. Now, scientists say they may finally have an answer in the form of a pill that works in just 12 weeks.

More than 1.3 billion people globally are living with hypertension. For about half of them, blood pressure remains uncontrolled, and in roughly one in ten, it’s resistant even to multiple medications. That group faces the highest risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, dementia, and premature death.

In the United States alone, nearly half of adults have elevated blood pressure, according to the CDC. For millions of these patients, lifestyle changes like reducing salt intake, exercising more, or losing weight help — but for many, even combining several prescription drugs is not enough. Resistant hypertension has long been a frustrating challenge for both patients and doctors.

Enter baxdrostat, a new pill developed by AstraZeneca. Early data suggest it may finally offer hope to patients with hard-to-control blood pressure. In a large clinical trial known as BaxHTN, which included 796 patients from 214 clinics worldwide, baxdrostat demonstrated significant blood pressure reductions over just 12 weeks.

Patients who took either 1 mg or 2 mg of the drug daily saw their systolic blood pressure drop by about 9–10 mmHg more than those who received a placebo. For context, cardiologists say that even a 5 mmHg reduction can lower cardiovascular risk significantly. Nearly four in ten patients on baxdrostat reached healthy blood pressure targets — compared with fewer than two in ten on placebo.

Professor Bryan Williams, chair of medicine at University College London and principal investigator of the trial, called the findings “a gamechanger.” He explained, “I’ve never seen blood pressure reductions of this magnitude with a drug in such a challenging patient group. This has the potential to help up to half a billion people worldwide.”

Why Existing High Blood Pressure Treatments Fall Short?

To understand why baxdrostat is making headlines, it’s important to look at how blood pressure medications currently work. Most existing drugs target the symptoms of hypertension:

• Diuretics help the body eliminate excess fluid and salt.
• Vasodilators relax arteries to reduce resistance.
• ACE inhibitors and ARBs block hormones that constrict blood vessels.
• Calcium channel blockers ease the workload of the heart by limiting calcium uptake.

While effective for many, these medications often fail in resistant hypertension. Patients may cycle through multiple classes of drugs, often taking three or more at once, and still see little improvement. Side effects like dizziness, fatigue, and swelling can make adherence harder.

How Does The Pill Tackle the Root Cause of Aldosterone?

Baxdrostat takes a different approach. Instead of targeting blood vessels or fluid directly, it blocks an enzyme critical to producing aldosterone, a hormone made in the adrenal glands.

Aldosterone regulates salt and water balance in the body, but some people produce too much of it. Excess aldosterone pushes the body to retain salt and fluid, raising blood pressure and making it unusually hard to control. Scientists have long known that aldosterone plays a central role in resistant hypertension, but attempts to block its production selectively have fallen short — until now.

Williams called baxdrostat “a triumph of scientific discovery,” noting that the drug’s precision in targeting aldosterone could explain why it worked so effectively in patients who had failed multiple treatments.

Could These Results Shift Hypertension Guidelines?

The results of the BaxHTN trial were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Madrid and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Cardiologists at the meeting emphasized the potential impact on global treatment guidelines if baxdrostat wins regulatory approval.

Dr. Stacey E. Rosen, volunteer president of the American Heart Association, who was not involved in the trial, noted: “Resistant hypertension is incredibly difficult to manage. Having another option, especially one that directly addresses aldosterone, could be transformative.”

The safety profile of baxdrostat was also encouraging. The most common side effect observed was mild abnormalities in sodium and potassium levels, but these were rare. Unlike some older treatments, baxdrostat did not show widespread adverse effects.

Hypertension is often called the “silent killer” because it produces no obvious symptoms while quietly damaging arteries, the brain, kidneys, and heart. Globally, it contributes to more than 10 million deaths each year, making it the single most important modifiable risk factor for heart disease, the world’s leading cause of death.

Lowering blood pressure is the most effective way to reduce this burden. Studies show that every 10 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure cuts the risk of stroke by about 40 percent and heart disease by about 25 percent.

What Comes Next for High Blood Pressure Patients?

For patients who have struggled for years to bring their numbers down despite medication, a once-daily pill that directly addresses a root cause could be life-changing.

Historically, hypertension was most common in Western nations. Today, thanks to changes in diet and lifestyle, low- and middle-income countries carry the heaviest burden. More than half of all people with hypertension now live in Asia, including 226 million in China and nearly 200 million in India.

That global spread makes baxdrostat’s potential even more important. If approved, the drug could not only transform care in the United States and Europe but also provide a critical tool in regions where hypertension is rising fastest and healthcare access is uneven.

AstraZeneca is expected to file for regulatory approval soon. If approved, baxdrostat would be the first new type of hypertension drug in decades. Experts caution, however, that more research is needed to understand how the drug performs over longer periods and across diverse populations.

Still, the initial results have generated rare excitement in a field where progress has been incremental for years. For doctors treating resistant hypertension, a 12-week pill that lowers blood pressure by nearly 10 mmHg represents a genuine breakthrough.

As Professor Williams summed it up, “This could change how we treat one of the most important causes of death and disability worldwide. For patients and clinicians alike, that is hugely exciting.”