New Delhi: India has achieved a significant public health milestone, with the number of children receiving no vaccines during their first year of life falling substantially in 2025, according to the latest estimates released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
The report shows that the number of “zero-dose” children—those who miss all routine vaccinations during infancy—declined from 909,000 in 2024 to 679,000 in 2025, reflecting continued progress in expanding immunisation coverage across the country.
The improvement has helped India move out of the list of the top 10 countries with the highest number of unvaccinated children against measles for the first time since 2001, marking a notable achievement in the country’s immunisation programme.
The WHO-UNICEF estimates also indicate that 95 per cent of Indian children are now covered with critical vaccines, including the third dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine (DTP3) and the second dose of the measles-containing vaccine (MCV2). These vaccines play a crucial role in protecting children from life-threatening infectious diseases.
Health experts attribute the gains to sustained government efforts to strengthen routine immunisation, particularly among vulnerable populations. Targeted vaccination drives in urban slums, migrant communities, remote rural regions and other underserved areas have helped improve access to essential vaccines and reduce the number of children left behind.
The achievement reinforces India’s position as one of the world’s largest and most extensive immunisation programmes, supported by expanded outreach, improved vaccine delivery systems and community-based awareness campaigns.
Despite India’s progress, the WHO and UNICEF cautioned that global childhood immunisation has yet to fully recover from disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many countries continue to face gaps in vaccine coverage, leaving millions of children vulnerable to preventable diseases.
The agencies have called for sustained investments in routine immunisation, stronger healthcare systems and continued efforts to reach every child with life-saving vaccines to prevent future outbreaks of measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
