The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have reported that approximately 89 percent of infants worldwide—around 115 million children—received at least one dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine in 2024.
The data, released on July 14, reflect new national immunisation coverage figures, showing modest yet encouraging gains in global childhood vaccination amid ongoing challenges.
Compared to 2023, an additional 171,000 children received at least one vaccine dose, and one million more completed the full three-dose DTP series.
Despite this progress, nearly 20 million infants still missed at least one DTP vaccine dose in 2024, including 14.3 million “zero-dose” children who did not receive any vaccines.
This falls short of the 2024 target by over four million, placing the global goals under the Immunisation Agenda 2030 at risk.
Vaccination Gains at Risk Amid Conflict and Misinformation
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus acknowledged the modest increase as a step in the right direction but warned that significant challenges remain.
“It’s encouraging to see an increase in children vaccinated, but we still have much work to do. Cuts in aid and vaccine misinformation threaten to reverse decades of progress,” he stated.
Dr Tedros identified limited healthcare access, conflict, misinformation, and supply disruptions as key drivers of under-vaccination.
Data from 195 countries showed that 131 countries have consistently achieved at least 90 percent DTP1 coverage since 2019. However, progress has stalled in 47 countries, with 22 nations regressing after previously reaching the benchmark.
“One-quarter of the world’s infants live in 26 fragile or conflict-affected countries,” he noted.
“These nations account for half of all unvaccinated children globally.”
Unvaccinated children in these fragile settings rose from 3.6 million in 2019 to 5.4 million in 2024, underlining the need for integrated immunisation in humanitarian responses.
In 2024, 89% of infants received at least one dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine, and 85% completed all three doses.
Global demand for childhood immunization is strong according to new data from WHO and @UNICEF 🔗https://t.co/2kZnoI3fjn pic.twitter.com/Ob22owl1dL
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 15, 2025
Gains in Low-Income Nations, Setbacks Elsewhere
According to WHO and UNICEF, low-income countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, made notable improvements in 2024, reducing under-vaccinated children by 650,000.
However, signs of declining vaccine coverage in upper-middle- and high-income countries raise concerns about the resurgence of preventable diseases.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell welcomed the progress but noted that millions of children remain vulnerable.
“We must urgently address barriers such as shrinking health budgets, misinformation, fragile systems, and access issues driven by conflict,” she said.
Russell also highlighted expansion in HPV, meningitis, pneumococcal, polio, and rotavirus vaccine coverage.
Global coverage for the HPV vaccine among eligible adolescent girls increased from 17 percent in 2019 to 31 percent in 2024, but still lags behind the 2030 target of 90 percent.
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Measles and Funding Remain Key Concerns
Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, acknowledged progress but warned that population growth, fragility, and conflict are major obstacles to equitable vaccination.
She pointed to some improvements in measles vaccination, yet noted the world is still below the 95 percent coverage threshold required to prevent outbreaks.
“Measles outbreaks almost doubled between 2022 and 2024—from 33 countries to 60 countries,” Nishtar warned.
She also raised concerns over funding shortfalls, instability, and rising vaccine misinformation, all of which could derail immunisation gains and increase deaths from preventable diseases.
Urgent Call for Action
WHO and UNICEF are calling on:
- Governments and donors to close funding gaps for Gavi’s 2026–2030 strategic cycle;
- Countries to scale up immunisation in conflict-affected and fragile settings;
- Local leaders to develop community-led strategies;
- Stronger investment in primary healthcare systems, disease surveillance, and data systems;
- A global effort to combat vaccine misinformation through evidence-based awareness campaigns.
The agencies reaffirmed that sustained progress in immunisation is essential to achieving global health equity and safeguarding children’s futures.