WHO and UNICEF release new Estimates of National Immunization Coverage
The WHO reports that global infant coverage of the DTP vaccine is nearing pre-COVID levels, with 90% receiving at least one dose in 2025. Despite improvements, challenges remain as millions of children, especially in fragile countries, miss vaccinations, risking outbreaks.
Global infant coverage of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine is almost back to pre-COVID levels, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This data comes from the most recent WHO-UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC).
Last year, 90% of the world’s infants received one dose or more of the DTP vaccine, with 85% undergoing all three doses. Additional data from 2025:
Nearly 13.5 million infants did not receive a single dose during their first year of life, a significant improvement from 2024. More than half of these children live in fragile, conflict-affected or vulnerable countries (FCV).
Childhood vaccine coverage progress is threatened by a growing number of individuals who did not complete their regimen.
7.3 million infants “dropped out” after receiving one DTP dose, missing their first measles vaccine dose.
Only 77% of children received a second measles vaccine dose, 18% less than the amount required to prevent outbreaks.
It is important to note that fewer national immunization surveys were taken in 2025 than in recent years. WHO and UNICEF warn that “weakening investments in the data systems needed to find and reach children who are missing out on vaccines will lead to outbreaks and deaths that could have been prevented.”
