What would happen in the world if no one got vaccinated?

Published on June 25, 2025 at 12:30 p.m.

Dengue vaccination campaign in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in February 2024. BUDA MENDES / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

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Decryption While the measles epidemic continues in the United States amid vaccine distrust, the loss of confidence in vaccines is occurring in most regions of the world. What would be the consequences if this trend were to spread? Here are some answers.

More than 1,200 cases of measles have been reported in the United States since the beginning of the year, resulting in at least three child deaths. Of these 1,000 people affected, 95% are unvaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) . The epidemic, whose epicenter is in Texas with more than 700 cases, is beginning to spread to neighboring states as well as the northeast of the country: 36 states are now affected. This decline in vaccination reflects the declining confidence in this type of prophylaxis. In 2025, 82% of parents say they will be up to date with their children's vaccinations, compared to 90% two years ago, according to the KFF polling institute. One in six parents (17%) postpone or do not use certain vaccines, while this figure was only 10% in 2023.

And the phenomenon is not limited to the United States: out of 55 countries studied, 52 have seen their confidence in vaccines decline since 2019 according to the Vaccine Confidence Project of the London School of Hygiene. While France records a significant loss of confidence in 2023 (from 86 to 75%), the decline is even greater in Japan, Senegal and Ghana. According to a study in the "Lancet" published this Wednesday, June 25 , childhood vaccination continues…

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