Global Childhood Vaccination Edges Up, Says UN

A child receives a vaccine during a nationwide immunisation drive in Yemen.

Global childhood immunization programmes continued to recover in 2025, but conflict, poverty and growing vaccine hesitancy are still leaving millions of children vulnerable to preventable diseases, according to new UN data released on Wednesday.

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

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

Millions Still Miss Life-Saving Vaccines

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 beyond the reach of essential health services.

At the same time, more children are starting vaccination schedules but failing to complete them, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.

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

"But millions of vulnerable children are still being left unprotected because of conflict, displacement and poverty. We must reach every child, and we must rebuild trust where it is eroding."

Measles Outbreaks Persist

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

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

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

Conflict and Vaccine Hesitancy

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

Syria recorded a sharp decline in vaccination coverage in 2025, while Sudan achieved 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 declining in some middle- and high-income countries despite vaccines being readily available. The agency cited vaccine hesitancy, weakening political commitment and other structural challenges as key factors.

Funding Challenges

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described vaccines as one of the most effective and equitable public health interventions.

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

WHO and UNICEF also warned that recent cuts to international health funding could undermine future progress.

Fewer countries conducted national immunization surveys in 2025, limiting efforts to identify children who have missed vaccinations and respond quickly to emerging outbreaks.

The two agencies called on governments and international partners to strengthen immunization programmes in fragile settings, combat misinformation, increase funding and invest in stronger disease surveillance systems to prevent further setbacks.