ISLAMABAD: A landmark study published in The Lancet has revealed alarming trends in global childhood immunisation, with millions of children now at risk of preventable diseases due to stalled or reversed vaccination coverage — including in countries like Pakistan.
Despite saving an estimated 154 million children’s lives over the past five decades, vaccine progress has slowed significantly since 2010. Measles vaccination rates have declined in nearly 100 countries, and even high-income nations such as France, the UK, and Japan are witnessing reduced coverage for critical vaccines including those for diphtheria, polio, and tuberculosis.
Persistent Inequities and Misinformation
According to Dr Jonathan Mosser of the University of Washington, this backsliding is driven by persistent global inequalities, the lasting disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the explosive rise of vaccine misinformation and hesitancy. These factors now threaten to undo years of progress and put global health goals for 2030 in jeopardy.
Pakistan remains among countries at heightened risk, especially with increasing wild polio cases reported. The study stresses that unless urgent, targeted action is taken, outbreaks of diseases like measles, polio, and diphtheria could escalate.
Call for Global Action
The researchers called for renewed investment in public trust, equitable access, and community engagement to rebuild vaccination coverage.
Lead author Dr Emily Haeuser emphasized, “Successful vaccination programmes rely on understanding people’s beliefs and concerns. Fighting misinformation is now essential.”
Experts say tackling growing vaccine hesitancy — especially via social media — is as important as providing the vaccines themselves.
