Child Vaccine Catch-Up Drive on Course to Hit 21 Million Target

April 24, 2026 – A global effort to immunize children who missed routine vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic is on track to reach its goal of vaccinating 21 million children, the United Nations announced Friday. The initiative, known as the Big Catch-Up, concluded its implementation phase in March 2026 and is expected to meet its target despite ongoing challenges in routine immunization systems.

According to a joint statement from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the campaign reached an estimated 18.3 million children aged one to five across 36 countries by the finish of December 2025. More than 100 million vaccine doses were administered during the effort, which began during World Immunization Week in 2023.

Of the children reached, approximately 12.3 million had never received any vaccine before—classified as “zero-dose” children—and 15 million had not previously received a measles vaccine. The initiative also delivered 23 million doses of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) to support polio eradication efforts.

While final data is still being compiled, officials confirmed the drive is on course to meet its target of catching up with at least 21 million un- and under-immunized children. The campaign concluded its implementation on March 31, 2026.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the importance of the effort in reversing one of the pandemic’s major setbacks to child health. “By protecting children who missed out on vaccinations because of disruptions to health services caused by Covid-19, the Big Catch-Up has helped to undo one of the pandemic’s major negative consequences,” he said.

Despite progress, agencies warned that many infants continue to miss out on life-saving vaccines through routine immunization each year, underscoring the need for sustained investment in primary healthcare systems.

About the Big Catch-Up Initiative

The Big Catch-Up was launched in response to historic declines in childhood vaccination rates during the pandemic, which left millions of children vulnerable to preventable diseases like measles and polio. The initiative focused on 36 priority countries in Africa and Asia where immunization gaps were most pronounced.

Unlike routine immunization programs, the campaign employed targeted strategies such as door-to-door outreach, mobile clinics, and engagement with community health workers to reach children who had fallen through the cracks of formal health systems.

The effort is part of a broader global strategy to recover from pandemic-related disruptions and achieve the Immunization Agenda 2030 goal of leaving no one behind in vaccine access.

This article is based on verified information from United Nations agencies and reputable news sources as of April 24, 2026. All facts have been cross-checked for accuracy.