Increases in vaccine-preventable disease

Childhood vaccination rates have dropped once again in several Western nations,
according to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, raising
alarm over the growing spread of diseases long considered under control. In stark
contrast, many developing countries have made remarkable progress in immunisation
efforts, successfully pushing back diseases like measles, polio and diphtheria.

The resurgence of preventable diseases in Europe and North America has been largely
driven by vaccine skepticism, misinformation, and political polarisation. In countries
such as the United States, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, increasing
numbers of parents are either delaying or refusing childhood immunisations altogether.
Health experts warn that this resistance is eroding decades of progress and
endangering herd immunity.

WHO’s Director of Immunisation, Dr Kate O’Brien, described the trend as “deeply
concerning and wholly avoidable.” She noted that “anti-vaccine rhetoric, often amplified
by social media platforms, continues to pose one of the biggest threats to public health.”

This resistance contrasts sharply with the commitment seen in low- and middle-income
countries, where governments and health workers have worked tirelessly to increase
vaccine coverage. Countries like Rwanda, Bangladesh, and Nigeria have embraced
widespread vaccination campaigns, often with limited resources but strong community
engagement.

In these countries, the memory of epidemics and the tangible impact of vaccines in
saving lives remain powerful motivators. Parents who have seen neighbors or relatives
lose children to preventable diseases tend to view vaccines as a vital lifeline rather than
a subject of political debate.

In the West, however, declining trust in institutions, growing populism, and the legacy of
COVID-19 vaccine controversies have fueled vaccine hesitancy. The impact is already
visible. Measles outbreaks have returned in parts of the UK and US, while polio traces

were recently detected in London’s sewage systems — a shocking reminder of past
public health battles.

Experts urge governments to intensify public education, regulate misinformation, and
restore trust in health systems. As Western countries falter, the Global South may
ironically become the world’s moral and medical compass, showing that progress
against childhood diseases is still possible, with science, trust, and commitment.

Photo – UNICEF/UNI692038/Ijazah