The annual WHO-UNICEF estimates of national vaccination coverage reveal 90 percent of infants worldwide received at least one dose of diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (DTP) vaccine last year, while 85 percent completed the recommended three-dose series.
Although both figures increased by one percentage point from 2024, global vaccination coverage remains below pre-pandemic levels.
Lack of life-saving vaccines
An It is estimated that 13.5 million children received no vaccines at all in their first year of life in 2025. Although it marks a drop of almost 750,000 “zero-dose” children compared to the previous year, millions remain beyond the reach of health services.
At the same time, more children start vaccination plans but fail to complete them, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.
“Governments and health workers have helped global vaccination rates rebound after falling significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
“But millions of vulnerable children are still left unprotected due to conflict, displacement and poverty. We must reach all children and we must rebuild trust where it frays.”
A one-year-old boy receives his mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine from a health worker in the Philippines.
Measles outbreaks continue
The report highlights growing concern over measles, one of the world’s most contagious diseases.
Globally, 84 percent of children received their first measles vaccine dose by 2025, and 77 percent received the second, well below the 95 percent coverage needed to prevent outbreaks.
As a result, 57 countries reported major or disruptive measles outbreaks last year.
Conflict and hesitation widen the gaps
More than half of all zero-dose children live in fragile or conflict-affected countries, where immunization programs are often disrupted by insecurity, political instability and underfunding.
Syria experienced a sharp decline in vaccination coverage during 2025, while Sudan recorded one of the world’s largest improvements, showing that immunization rates can recover in conflict situations when access to health services is expanded.
The WHO also warned that vaccination rates are slipping in some middle- and high-income countries despite vaccines being readily available, citing vaccine hesitancy, weakening political commitment and other structural challenges.
Concerns about funding
WHO Director-General Tedros called vaccines one of the most effective and equitable public health interventions.
“Every child, whether born into wealth or poverty, peace or conflict, deserves the life-giving protection that vaccines providehe said.
The agencies also warned that recent cuts in international health funding could undermine future progress.
Fewer countries conducted national immunization surveys by 2025, limiting the ability to identify children lacking vaccines and respond quickly to new outbreaks.
WHO and UNICEF called on governments and international partners to strengthen vaccination programs in fragile settings, combat misinformation, increase funding and invest in stronger disease surveillance systems to prevent further setbacks.
