A landmark study published in The Lancet warns that after five decades of steady gains, childhood vaccination coverage is stalling or declining worldwide. The analysis draws on 50 years of country-level data and highlights a troubling rise in “zero-dose” children—those missing even the most basic vaccines. Inequalities, lingering COVID-19 disruptions, and increasing vaccine misinformation are contributing to uneven progress, according to the study led by researchers at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation and supported by the Gates Foundation and Gavi.
In Thailand, decades of routine immunisations have shielded generations from measles, polio, and diphtheria. The new findings have clear implications for health policy, public trust, and future national health security. The message is urgent: past successes are at risk if decisive, sustained action is not taken at home and in global cooperation.
The analysis shows more than 4 billion children vaccinated since 1974, saving an estimated 154 million lives. Yet progress has slowed since 2010, and some regions have even seen declines since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Coverage for core vaccines against measles, polio, tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis nearly doubled from 1980 to 2023, but advances stagnated in the past decade, with disruptions to schools, health services, and supply chains contributing to missed doses.
A major concern is the growing gap in vaccine access across regions and socio-economic groups. The World Health Organization reports that 14.5 million children worldwide received no vaccines in 2023. While most zero-dose children live in sub-Saharan Africa, pockets of Southeast Asia—including Thailand’s border regions—also face gaps that require urgent attention. Data from global health authorities underscores the persistent challenge of reaching vulnerable populations with essential immunisations.
Experts emphasize the need to intensify domestic investment and expand outreach to ensure all children are covered. In a statement shared with researchers and health professionals, a senior immunisation official warned that unless efforts are intensified, vaccine confidence may waver and progress could regress, letting preventable diseases reemerge.
The pandemic amplified the problem. School closures, overwhelmed health systems, and interrupted vaccine supply chains contributed to tens of millions of missed routine shots. By 2023, many vaccines had not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, and outbreaks—such as measles spikes across multiple continents—illustrate the real cost of these gaps. In response, health authorities called for renewed commitment to immunisation and stronger public health messaging to counter misinformation.
Vaccine hesitancy, increasingly fueled by online misinformation, remains a global hurdle. The World Health Organization has long identified vaccine confidence as a critical factor in sustaining high coverage. Analysts note that political debates and mixed messaging in certain countries have further eroded trust, risking further declines in vaccination rates worldwide.
Thailand’s context offers both strengths and challenges. The country’s public health system, led by the Ministry of Public Health, has achieved high vaccination coverage and successfully eradicated polio in the past. Yet outbreaks in border provinces and gaps among migrant and stateless populations show that complacency could threaten progress. Thailand’s experience with school-based vaccination programs and strong community health networks demonstrates how sustained investment, creative delivery methods, and collaboration with local religious and community leaders can maintain high uptake. Cross-border migration and misinformation online remain practical barriers that must be addressed with inclusive, accessible health communication and community engagement.
Public health experts urge targeted outreach in remote areas and urban communities where coverage lags. Community health volunteers, temple-based health promotion, and school campaigns remain vital channels to build trust and ensure vaccines reach every child. The Thai health system is urged to keep funding steady and expand mobile clinics or outreach programs to hard-to-reach communities, particularly along borders.
What should Thailand do now? Maintain universal, free access to vaccines—across cities, rural villages, and border areas. Empower trusted local messengers in schools, temples, and community groups to counter misinformation with clear, compassionate information. Policy-makers should protect funding for immunisation and ensure resilience in vaccine supply chains, especially amid global budget pressures. Families should verify their children’s vaccination records and consult health authorities if in doubt, recognizing that timely immunisation protects individuals and strengthens national health security.
For Thai readers and health workers, the takeaway is clear: vigilance and proactive outreach are essential. Sharing accurate information, helping friends and neighbors access vaccines, and challenging false claims—online and offline—are practical steps that protect the nation’s health.
This study serves as a global wake-up call: immunisation is a precious public good that must be defended. Thailand stands at a crossroads where swift, informed action today will shape the health of future generations. Grounded in scientific evidence and Thailand’s tradition of communal care, coordinated effort at national and local levels will sustain progress and shield children from easily preventable diseases.