Global Childhood Immunization Shows Marginal Progress Amid Alarming Gaps in Protection

Global childhood immunization programs continued to recover in 2025, yet conflict, poverty and rising vaccine hesitancy persistently leave millions of children vulnerable to preventable diseases, according to new UN data released on Wednesday.

The annual WHO-UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage reveal that 90 percent of infants worldwide received at least one dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine last year, while 85 percent completed the recommended three-dose series.

Although both figures increased by one percentage point from 2024, global vaccination coverage remains below pre-pandemic levels.

An estimated 13.5 million children received no vaccines at all during their first year of life in 2025. While this marks a decline of nearly 750,000 “zero-dose” children compared with the previous year, millions remain untouchable by health services. Simultaneously, an increasing number of children are initiating vaccination schedules but failing to complete them, heightening disease outbreak risks.

“Governments and health workers have helped global vaccination rates bounce back after dropping significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

“But millions of vulnerable children are still being left unprotected due to conflict, displacement and poverty. We must reach every child, and we must rebuild trust where it is fraying.”

© UNICEF A one-year-old boy receives his mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) from a health worker in the Philippines. Measles outbreaks continue

The report highlights growing concern over measles, one of the world’s most contagious diseases.

Globally, 84 percent of children received their first measles vaccine dose in 2025 and 77 percent received the second, well below the 95 percent coverage needed to prevent outbreaks.

As a result, 57 countries reported major or disruptive measles outbreaks last year.

Conflict and hesitancy widen gaps

More than half of all zero-dose children live in fragile or conflict-affected countries, where immunization programs are often disrupted by insecurity, political instability and underfunding.

Syria saw sharp declines in vaccination coverage during 2025, while Sudan recorded one of the world’s largest improvements, demonstrating that immunization rates can recover even in conflict settings when access to health services expands.

WHO also warned that vaccination rates are slipping in some middle- and high-income countries despite vaccines being readily available, citing vaccine hesitancy, weakening political commitment and other structural challenges.

Funding concerns

WHO Director-General Tedros called vaccines one of the most effective and equitable public health interventions.

“Every child, whether born into wealth or poverty, peace or conflict, deserves the life-giving protection that vaccines provide,” he said.

The agencies also warned that recent cuts to international health financing could undermine future progress.

Fewer countries carried out national immunization surveys in 2025, limiting the ability to identify children who are missing vaccines and respond quickly to emerging outbreaks.

WHO and UNICEF called on governments and international partners to strengthen vaccination programs in fragile settings, combat misinformation, increase funding and invest in stronger disease surveillance systems to prevent further setbacks.

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