Global Childhood Vaccination Rates Decline Post-Pandemic: Study Reveals

A recent study published in The Lancet on July 25, 2025, highlights a concerning trend in global childhood vaccination rates, which have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. This research, conducted by a team of researchers led by Hemen Sarma, an Associate Professor at Bodoland University in India, indicates that as of 2023, vaccination coverage for critical vaccines, including those for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP), measles, and polio, has not rebounded to the levels seen prior to the pandemic.

The study reveals that India is among eight countries that contribute to more than half of the 15.7 million children classified as 'zero-dose' globally—children who have not received the first dose of DTP. The other countries identified in this alarming statistic include Brazil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nigeria, Somalia, and Sudan. According to Sarma, "The study emphasizes the progress and challenges in global childhood vaccination efforts from 1980 to 2023. The coverage for key vaccines nearly doubled over this period; however, the positive trend conceals significant setbacks."

The data indicates that between 2010 and 2019, vaccination rates stagnated in many regions, with 21 of the 36 high-income countries experiencing declines in coverage for at least one vaccine. The pandemic exacerbated these issues, leading to a sharp decline in global vaccination rates starting in 2020, with no recovery observed by 2023. The report notes that while vaccines introduced more recently, such as those for pneumonia and rotavirus, continued to expand, their growth rates were significantly hindered during the pandemic.

The increase in zero-dose children, which had dropped significantly from 1980 to 2019, peaked at 18.6 million in 2021, mainly affecting children in conflict zones or regions with limited healthcare access, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The authors of the study warn that unless immediate action is taken to address these disparities, global immunization targets set for 2030 will remain unattainable. They advocate for bolstered healthcare systems, targeted campaigns to combat vaccine misinformation, and focused efforts to reach the most underserved communities.

Campaigns such as the World Health Organization’s 'Big Catch-Up' and renewed initiatives to restore routine immunization are critical to reversing the decline and ensuring that every child receives the necessary vaccinations to protect against preventable diseases. The study also provides updated estimates of routine childhood vaccine coverage across 204 countries and territories, employing advanced modeling techniques to account for various data biases and disruptions caused by the pandemic.

The researchers assessed historic coverage trends, the impact of COVID-19 on vaccination efforts, and the progress needed to halve the number of zero-dose children by 2030. Given the ongoing public health implications of stagnated vaccination rates, the urgency for comprehensive global health strategies cannot be overstated. The study underlines a critical juncture in public health where proactive, coordinated efforts are essential to safeguard the well-being of future generations.