13.5 Million Children Missed Vaccinations in 2025, UNICEF and WHO Report
A joint report by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals that 13.5 million children worldwide did not receive any vaccine doses in 2025, leaving them vulnerable to preventable diseases. An additional 6.2 million children received only partial vaccination. While these figures represent a decrease of 745,000 children without any vaccine doses compared to 2024, the organizations warn that progress is insufficient to meet the 2030 goal of halving the number of "zero-dose" children from the 2019 baseline of 12.8 million. In 2025, the 13.5 million unvaccinated children were 700,000 more than in 2019 and significantly higher than the mid-decade interim target.
Nine countries—Nigeria, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Angola—accounted for over half of all children who missed vaccinations. While measles vaccination is showing signs of recovery towards 2019 levels, with 1.8 million fewer unvaccinated children compared to seven years prior, the coverage for the final dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among girls increased from 28% to 31%. Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine coverage also saw slight improvements in 2025 over 2024 but remains below 2019 levels. Kate O'Brien, WHO's Director of Immunization and Vaccines, acknowledged modest progress but highlighted significant advancements in vaccine-preventable diseases over the past 25 years, made possible by the development and administration of safe and effective vaccines. The report also notes that 90 countries have maintained high and stable vaccination coverage above 95%, while nine have made some progress, and 74 countries saw an increase in unvaccinated children in 2025 compared to 2019.
The report from UNICEF and WHO highlights a critical global health challenge: the persistent gap in childhood vaccination coverage. Despite modest year-over-year improvements, the data indicates a significant shortfall in achieving the 2030 Agenda's targets for reducing zero-dose children. This situation underscores the complex interplay of factors influencing vaccine access, including socioeconomic disparities, geopolitical instability in key regions, and the potential impact of competing public health priorities. The analysis suggests that while the development of new vaccines is a triumph, the equitable distribution and administration of existing essential vaccines remain a systemic hurdle. Future strategies must address not only the availability of vaccines but also the infrastructure, education, and trust required for sustained high coverage, particularly in the context of evolving global health landscapes and potential future pandemics. The divergence in progress across countries also points to the need for tailored, context-specific interventions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
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