Global Vaccination Rates Stabilize, Yet Over 14 Million Infants Unvaccinated

In 2024, approximately 89% of infants worldwide—an estimated 115 million—received at least one dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine, with 85% completing the full three-dose regimen. These figures, released in a joint report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF on July 15, 2025, indicate a modest increase from the previous year, yet they underscore a troubling trend as more than 14 million infants remain unvaccinated.

The report highlights that while the global vaccination coverage shows signs of stability, approximately 14.3 million children are classified as 'zero-dose,' meaning they have not received a single vaccine. This situation is exacerbated by various factors, including limited access to healthcare, misinformation regarding vaccine safety, and the ongoing impacts of conflict and instability in certain regions.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO, emphasized the urgency of addressing these challenges, stating, "Vaccines save lives, allowing individuals, families, communities, economies, and nations to flourish. It's encouraging to see a continued increase in the number of children being vaccinated, although we still have a lot of work to do." He pointed out that drastic cuts in international aid and the spread of vaccine misinformation threaten to undermine decades of progress in global health.

The disparities in vaccination coverage are stark. Data from 195 countries reveals that while 131 nations have consistently achieved at least 90% coverage for the first dose of the DTP vaccine since 2019, only 17 of the countries that fell short in 2019 have made improvements over the last five years. Alarmingly, in 47 countries, vaccination rates are stagnating or declining, including 22 nations that previously surpassed the 90% target.

In regions plagued by conflict and humanitarian crises, the situation is particularly dire. A quarter of the world’s infants reside in 26 countries affected by such instability, accounting for half of all unvaccinated children globally. The number of unvaccinated infants in these areas has surged from 3.6 million in 2019 to 5.4 million in 2024, emphasizing the need for humanitarian efforts to incorporate immunization initiatives.

Notably, in low-income countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, improvements have been observed, with a reduction of approximately 650,000 un- and under-vaccinated children over the past year. However, troubling signs are emerging in upper-middle- and high-income countries where vaccination coverage, previously above 90%, is beginning to slip.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell remarked, "The good news is that we have managed to reach more children with life-saving vaccines. But millions of children remain without protection against preventable diseases, and that should worry us all." She called for immediate action to address barriers such as reduced health budgets and misinformation.

Vaccination efforts continue to expand, with countries introducing and scaling up vaccines for diseases like human papillomavirus (HPV), pneumococcal disease, and polio. In 2024, 31% of eligible adolescent girls received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, a significant increase from 17% in 2019, although it still falls short of the 90% target set for 2030.

Progress against measles has also seen slight improvements, with 84% of children receiving the first dose and 76% receiving the second dose in 2024. Despite reaching 2 million more children, overall measles coverage remains below the 95% threshold necessary to prevent outbreaks, resulting in over 30 million children still under-protected.

As the global demand for childhood vaccinations remains high, the latest data indicates a concerning trajectory for public health initiatives. WHO and UNICEF have called on governments and partners to address funding shortages, enhance immunization efforts in fragile settings, and combat vaccine misinformation to prevent a reversal of progress in vaccination coverage.

The commitment of governments and international organizations will be crucial to ensuring that every child receives the protection they deserve against preventable diseases, avoiding future outbreaks and the consequent strain on healthcare systems worldwide.