A joint report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has revealed a troubling setback in global childhood immunisation efforts.
According to the 2024 data, over 14.3 million children worldwide did not receive a single dose of any vaccine, leaving them entirely unprotected against preventable diseases.
The report—part of the annual immunisation coverage estimates published by WHO and UNICEF—highlighted that an estimated 20 million children missed at least one dose of the life-saving DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) vaccine, which is widely used as a benchmark for immunisation coverage.
“While global immunisation services are recovering from the disruptions caused by COVID-19, progress is still too slow to reach every child,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Every missed vaccination is a missed opportunity to protect a child against life-threatening illness.”
The figure of 14.3 million unvaccinated children represents a decline from the pandemic peak in 2021, but remains higher than the pre-pandemic level of 11 million in 2019, and significantly above the global target to reduce the number of “zero-dose” children to 10 million by 2024.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell also voiced concern: “These numbers are a wake-up call. Immunisation is one of the most effective tools we have to save children’s lives. The fact that millions are still missing out on basic vaccines means we must do more—especially in conflict-affected and low-resource regions.”
The majority of zero-dose children in 2024 were located in low-income and lower-middle-income countries, with persistent gaps in access, health infrastructure, and vaccine confidence.
Key Highlights from the Report:
- 14.3 million children received zero vaccinations in 2024.
- 20 million children missed at least one dose of DTP.
- Global immunisation coverage is improving post-COVID, but has not yet returned to 2019 levels.
- Progress remains uneven, with countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia bearing the highest burdens.
The report calls for renewed political commitment, increased funding, and targeted outreach to vulnerable populations in order to close immunisation gaps and achieve universal vaccine access by 2030 in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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