A recent joint report from the World Health Organisation and UNICEF highlights a persistent global immunisation gap, revealing that 13.5 million infants received no routine vaccines in 2025. Conflict, economic instability, and vaccine skepticism are primary drivers preventing these children from accessing essential protection against preventable illnesses.
Data from the latest WHO-UNICEF Estimates of National Immunisation Coverage shows that while vaccination rates have partially recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, they remain below 2019 levels. Roughly 116 million children received at least one dose of the DTP vaccine, yet millions fail to finish the full three-dose series. Measles coverage is particularly concerning; only 84 percent of children received their first dose, and 77 percent received their second, falling well short of the 95 percent threshold needed to prevent outbreaks.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell stressed the urgency of rebuilding public trust and reaching marginalized populations. While regions like the Americas and South-East Asia have largely recovered their pre-pandemic status, countries in the Western Pacific and those facing humanitarian crises continue to struggle. Notably, over half of the children who have received zero doses currently live in fragile, conflict-ridden environments.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that vaccines are a critical and cost-effective tool for global health equity. However, the agencies warned that declining international health financing is hindering the ability to monitor coverage gaps effectively. To combat these trends, global health leaders are calling for increased funding, better surveillance systems, and robust efforts to counter misinformation to ensure all children are shielded from lethal, preventable diseases.