Millions Left Unprotected as Vaccination Rates Stagnate
Global childhood vaccination coverage saw a marginal increase in 2025, yet 13,5 million children did not receive any vaccine during their first year of life, leaving them vulnerable to preventable diseases. According to the latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, while immunization rates are recovering from pandemic-era declines, progress remains uneven. Millions of children in conflict-affected areas and impoverished regions still lack basic life-saving protection.
The Stubborn Reality of the Zero-Dose Population
Approximately 85% of infants worldwide—about 110 million children—completed the three recommended doses of the DTP vaccine in 2025. While this marks a slight improvement, global coverage remains a point below the 2019 levels.
Data highlights a significant “zero-dose” population: children who have received no routine vaccines at all. While these numbers fluctuate, the WHO and UNICEF note that more than half of these children reside in countries affected by conflicts or situations of fragility.
Measles Gaps Threaten Herd Immunity
A growing concern for public health officials is the rise in “under-vaccinated” children who start, but fail to complete, their vaccine series. This drop-off is particularly evident between the first dose of DTP and the first dose of the measles vaccine.
To prevent outbreaks, coverage against measles must reach 95%. Currently, coverage remains well below this level, and 57 countries reported major or disruptive outbreaks during 2025. This gap has fueled a resurgence of measles cases, as the virus spreads rapidly in under-immunized populations.
Regional Disparities and Structural Hurdles
The trajectory of recovery varies by geography. Data from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) shows the Americas recovered in 2025 and surpassed pre-pandemic childhood vaccination levels. However, even in these regions, important immunization gaps persist, and measles coverage has decreased.
The decline also affects middle and high-income countries, where vaccines are available but misinformation, decreased political commitment and other structural challenges are reducing coverage.
Funding Shortfalls and the Path Forward
The WHO and UNICEF identify the reduction of international health funding as a primary threat to sustaining current gains. Immunization remains one of the most effective, equitable and cost-effective health interventions, yet the information systems required to identify unvaccinated children are weakening.
“We must reach every child and rebuild trust where it is weakening,” stated UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. The agencies are calling on governments to reinforce immunization programs in countries affected by conflicts, combat misinformation, increase national and international funding, and invest in stronger surveillance and data collection systems.
The WHO and UNICEF warn that without sustained commitment, the progress of the last 25 years—which saw a 40% reduction in the number of children who never receive a vaccine—could be threatened, leaving a generation at risk of diseases previously under control.