UN: Over 14 million children received no vaccines in 2024

• • World wide, 14.3 million children received no vaccines in 2024, a 1.4 million increase since 2019.

• • The U.S. halts $300M in GAVI funding, citing “neglected vaccine safety concerns.”

• • Measles outbreaks surge to 30-year highs amid gaps in global immunization coverage.

• • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledges $10 billion for vaccines amid criticism of global mandates.

• • Health freedom advocates urge transparency, calling for balance between vaccination goals and individual rights.

The United Nations on July 15 revealed that 14.3 million children worldwide received no vaccines in 2024, marking a 1.4 million increase from the 2019 baseline. The staggering statistic, just shy of 2023’s record high, underscores a deepening global divide between vaccination efforts and persistent barriers like conflict, mistrust and safety skepticism. The report coincides with escalating tensions over U.S. funding cuts to global health initiatives and debates about the ethics of aggressive immunization campaigns.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF noted that while 89% of infants received at least one dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine, 14.3 million children—dubbed “zero-dose” infants—remained unprotected. Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s executive director, called the gap “worrying for all,” while WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized commitments to “increase domestic investment” to align with the Immunization Agenda 2030.

Yet 25% of unvaccinated children live in crisis zones like Afghanistan, Syria and South Sudan, where conflict disrupts health systems. “Shrinking health budgets and misinformation are making a dangerous cocktail,” said Dr. Kate O’Brien of WHO.

U.S. withdraws GAVI funding over safety concerns

The U.S. decision to cut GAVI funding has thrown fuel on the debate. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., citing “neglect of vaccine safety,” announced in June that the U.S. would withhold contributions until GAVI “considers all available science,” including contested risks. The move follows President Trump’s 2022 withdrawal from WHO, amplifying distrust in global health bodies. GAVI, which received $8 billion from U.S. taxpayers since 2001, dismissed the criticism, stating it adheres to “evidence-based” practices.

“Our children deserve answers, not quick fixes,” Kennedy said. Meanwhile, the Gates Foundation pledged 1.6 billion to GAVI, doubling down on its 10 billion decade-long vaccine research initiative.

Critics, including the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, argue that universal vaccination campaigns ignore localized risks. “Global vaccine dogma needs objective scrutiny,” said Dr. Jane Orient, citing ethical dilemmas around mandates. Natural News, a health freedom outlet, has long criticized GAVI’s push to “forcibly vaccinate every child,” framing it as a threat to civilian liberties.

The U.S. measles crisis has amplified these tensions. Cases reached a 33-year high in 2024, prompting the American Academy of Pediatrics to insist vaccines “save lives,” even as Kennedy dismissed talk of a “national emergency” and acknowledged “religious opt-outs.”

Immunization Agenda 2030: Collateral damage or collective good?

The WHO’s 2030 targets aim to halve unvaccinated gaps by providing “all children” protection against preventable diseases. But Dr. Ephrem Lemango of UNICEF admits progress hinges on stability and funding—resources strained by austerity and wars. “Closing gaps means addressing systemic inequities,” he said. Legitimate parental concerns about safety also need to be addressed.

The U.S. withdrawal and energy shifts toward “science-centered” health systems, like Kennedy’s push for an alternative to WHO, suggest that the future of immunization may hinge on balancing innovation with transparency. As 14 million unvaccinated infants face threats of illness and distrust in global institutions grows, the world grapples with dual imperatives: eradicating preventable diseases and respecting health freedom. The debate is no longer just about science—it’s about ethos. “No vaccine strategy,” Dr. Orient warns, “can succeed without public trust.”

The roadmap to achieving Immunization Agenda 2030’s vision demands navigating this dual challenge: fostering innovation to combat diseases while honoring the right to choose. By avoiding the extremes of rushed action or sluggish progress, nations can create resilient immunization systems. This balance is critical to ensuring global health security, equity and societal cohesion in an era where infectious diseases and misinformation remain persistent threats.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

ABCNews.go.com

TheEpochTimes.com

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Source: https://naturalblaze.com/2025/07/un-over-14-million-children-received-no-vaccines-in-2024.html