The World Must Not Turn Its Back on Vaccination

Childhood immunization remains the world's most cost-effective public-health intervention, yet global progress has stalled due to vaccine skepticism in high-income nations and a significant collapse in global-health financing. This decline disproportionately affects fragile and conflict-affected settings, where approximately half of the 14 million zero-dose children reside. These children face drastically higher mortality rates, and gaps in coverage increase epidemic risks globally. The article argues that the solution lies in investing in localized delivery models, such as the Reaching Every Child in Humanitarian Settings (REACH) initiative led by the International Rescue Committee. Demonstrating that a single vaccine dose can be administered for less than $2 even in active conflict zones, REACH has successfully vaccinated over one million children in countries like Chad and Sudan by leveraging trusted community health workers. As leaders convene for the World Health Assembly, the author urges international donors to prioritize funding for these evidence-based, local-partner-driven models. Restoring support for immunization in hard-to-reach areas is presented not only as a moral imperative but as a critical strategy for global health security and economic stability, preventing millions of preventable deaths and safeguarding future generations.