• India constituted 6.4 per cent of the global population of children who did not receive a single dose of any vaccine in 2024, according to a United Nations report.

• The new national immunisation coverage data released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF highlighted that India accounted for 49.2 per cent of zero-dose children in South Asia.

• The term ‘zero-dose children’ refers to those who have not received any routine immunisations, including the first dose of the DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) vaccine. This metric is a critical indicator of access to immunisation services and overall healthcare infrastructure.

• In India, there were 684,000 fewer zero-dose children in 2024. This leaves 909,000 children without vaccination, vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases and a further 454,000 with incomplete protection.

• Globally, 14.3 million zero-dose children never received a single dose of any vaccine in 2024.

• Based on country-reported data, the WHO and UNICEF estimates of national immunisation coverage (WUENIC) provide the world’s largest and most comprehensive dataset on immunisation trends for vaccinations against 14 diseases given through regular health systems — normally at clinics, community centres, outreach services, or health worker visits. 

• For 2024, data were provided from 189 countries. 

• WHO and UNICEF are working with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and other partners to deliver the global Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030), a strategy for all countries and relevant global partners to achieve set goals on preventing diseases through immunisation and delivering vaccines to everyone, everywhere, at every age.  

Key points of the report:

• In 2024, about 89 per cent of infants globally — about 115 million — received at least one dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP)-containing vaccine, and 85 per cent — roughly 109 million — completed all three doses.

• Compared to 2023, around 171,000 more children received at least one vaccine, and one million more completed the full three-dose DTP series. 

• While the gains are modest, they signal continued progress by countries working to protect children, even amid growing challenges.

• Still, nearly 20 million infants missed at least one dose of DTP-containing vaccine last year.

• Children often remain unvaccinated or under-vaccinated due to a combination of factors, such as limited access to immunisation services, disrupted supply, conflict and instability, or misinformation about vaccines.

• The data shows conflict and humanitarian crises can quickly erode vaccination progress. A quarter of the world’s infants live in just 26 countries affected by fragility, conflict, or humanitarian crises, yet they make up half of all unvaccinated children globally.

• In half of these countries, the number of unvaccinated children has expanded rapidly from 3.6 million in 2019 to 5.4 million in 2024, underscoring the need for humanitarian responses to include immunisation.

• Signs of slippage are emerging in upper-middle and high-income countries that have previously maintained at least 90 per cent coverage. Even small declines in immunisation coverage can dramatically raise the risk of disease outbreaks and place additional strain on already overstretched health systems.

• Despite these challenges, countries – especially those supported by Gavi – continue to introduce and scale up vaccines, including against human papillomavirus (HPV), meningitis, pneumococcal disease, polio, and rotavirus.

• Although the community demand for childhood vaccination remains high and protection against more diseases is expanding, the latest estimates highlight a concerning trajectory. National and global funding shortfalls, growing instability worldwide, and rising vaccine misinformation threaten to further stall or even reverse progress.

How the situation can be improved?

i) Close the funding gap for Gavi’s next strategic cycle (2026–2030) to protect millions of children in lower-income countries and global health security.

ii) Strengthen immunisation in conflict and fragile settings to reach more zero-dose children and prevent deadly disease outbreaks.

iii) Prioritise local-led strategies and domestic investment, embedding immunisation firmly within primary healthcare systems to close equity gaps.

iv) Counter misinformation and further increase vaccine uptake through evidence-based approaches.

v) Invest in stronger data and disease surveillance systems to guide high-impact immunisation programmes.

Additional Read:

Mission Indradhanush

Mission Indradhanush, launched in December 2014, is a strategic initiative by the Indian government aimed at increasing the full immunisation coverage for children across the country, with a goal to reach 90 per cent coverage.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store