In 2025, 90% of infants globally – or nearly 116 million – received at least one dose of a diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine, and 85% – or 110 million – completed the full three-dose series, according to the annual WHO-UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) released the other day.
While both indicators rose by one percentage point from the previous year, global coverage remains one point below 2019 levels – hovering within the same narrow range since 2009.
According to the data, an estimated 13.5 million “zero-dose” children did not receive a single vaccine in their first year during 2025. While these represent nearly 750 000 fewer children than the previous year, progress is offset by a rising number of children who start the schedule and do not complete it. Most of these children live in countries where national immunization programmes receive support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Globally, 7.3 million infants are estimated to have received their first DTP dose but dropped out before receiving their first measles dose. This drop-out rate contributed to stalled measles coverage with 84% of children receiving the first measles dose (MCV1) and 77% receiving the second dose (MCV2). Both figures fall far short of the 95% threshold required to prevent outbreaks of this highly contagious virus. Consequently, 57 countries reported large or disruptive measles outbreaks in 2025, added the press release note.
“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. No child should suffer from a disease that a simple vaccine can prevent.”
Data from 195 countries show that 100 countries have maintained at least 90% coverage with three doses of DTP vaccine since 2019, with little progress in expanding this group. Of the countries below 90% coverage in 2019, 30 improved their rates over the past six years, but 65 countries are stagnating or falling behind, including 13 fragile, conflict-affected or vulnerable countries (FCV).
Compared to their 2019 baselines, the Americas and South-East Asia have fully recovered and improved their performance, with the latter now the highest performing region. While Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Europe regions saw gains last year, their coverage remains below pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. By contrast, the Western Pacific experienced a decline, leaving it the region furthest below its 2019 baseline.
Behind these global and regional averages are persistent threats that are driving variability and volatility in country-level vaccination coverage.
More than half of all zero-dose children live in FCV settings, even though they account for only about a third of the world’s child population. In these settings, immunization programmes are often strained by political upheaval, insecurity, or chronic underfunding.
In middle- and high‑income countries, even where vaccines are fully accessible, coverage is slipping amid shifting political commitment, structural challenges or rising hesitancy.
Over the past 25 years, sustained investments from governments and partners, commitments from communities, strengthened programmes, and broad public trust have reduced the annual number of zero-dose children by 40%.
However, the foundations that enabled progress are now under significant strain. The full impact of cuts to international health financing announced over the past two years is not yet reflected in these estimates, but the data systems needed to track that impact and protect against backsliding are themselves showing strain.
According to the data, only 18 national immunization surveys were undertaken and submitted this round, down from 50 in 2024 and an average of 33 per year between 2015 and 2019.
Weakening investments in the data systems needed to find and reach children who are missing out on vaccines will lead to outbreaks and deaths that could have been prevented, warn the agencies.
WHO and UNICEF are working with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and other partners to deliver the global Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) goal to ensure vaccines reach everyone, everywhere, at every age, yet the world is further off track to reach the global target of reducing zero-dose children.
WHO and UNICEF also call on governments and relevant partners to step various courses.
