13.5 million children got no vaccine at all in 2025
An estimated 13.5 million infants received no vaccine in 2025, and 57 countries reported large or disruptive measles outbreaks as measles coverage stalled.
How this affects people
In 2025, 90% of infants received at least one dose of the DTP vaccine and 85% completed three doses. Both figures rose by one point but remain one point below 2019 levels.
More than half of zero-dose children live in fragile, conflict-affected or vulnerable settings. Measles coverage is 84% for the first dose and 77% for the second, against the 95% needed to prevent outbreaks.
Look at what keeps the problem going
- 01Conflict, displacement and poverty
- 02Strained or underfunded immunisation programmes in fragile settings
- 03Children who start the schedule but drop out before finishing
- 04Eroding trust and vaccine hesitancy
What could happen next
The future leaves room for choices. Compare the outlooks, check what supports them and notice where the evidence becomes less certain
Funding cuts not yet in the data
UNICEF and WHO say the full impact of international health financing cuts is not yet reflected in the 2025 estimates.
The future is not a timetable. These summaries reflect published scenarios and trends, with deeper uncertainty at longer horizons. Choices made now matter.
Where could a useful response begin?
Begin with a question you can investigate. Compare the sources and follow related briefings to see how the problem connects to other lives and places. This prototype does not accept proposals yet.
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