Global Immunization Coverage Sees Modest Gains in 2025

In 2025, global childhood immunization coverage saw a modest increase, with 90% of infants worldwide receiving at least one dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine. This represents nearly 116 million infants. The full three-dose DTP series was completed by 85% of infants, totaling 110 million. These figures, released by the WHO-UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC), indicate a one percentage point rise from the previous year for both indicators. However, global coverage remains one percentage point below 2019 levels and has stayed within a narrow range since 2009.

Despite the slight improvements, an estimated 13.5 million infants in 2025 did not receive any vaccine in their first year, a reduction of nearly 750,000 from the prior year. This progress is counteracted by an increasing number of children who begin their vaccination schedule but do not complete it. A significant portion of these children reside in countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Furthermore, 7.3 million infants globally received their first DTP dose but did not receive their first measles vaccine dose, contributing to stalled measles coverage rates.

Measles vaccination coverage remains insufficient to prevent outbreaks, with only 84% of children receiving the first measles dose (MCV1) and 77% receiving the second dose (MCV2). The World Health Organization and UNICEF state that a 95% coverage rate is necessary to prevent widespread outbreaks of the highly contagious virus. Consequently, 57 countries reported substantial or disruptive measles outbreaks in 2025. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell acknowledged the efforts of governments and health workers in recovering vaccination rates post-COVID-19 pandemic but highlighted that millions of vulnerable children remain unprotected due to conflict, displacement, and poverty, emphasizing the need to reach every child and rebuild trust in vaccination.