India recorded more than six lakh children who did not receive any routine vaccination in 2025, according to the annual WHO-UNICEF Estimates of National Immunisation Coverage (WUENIC) released on Wednesday. The report, however, highlighted significant improvement in India’s vaccination outreach, with the number of zero-dose children declining sharply compared with previous years.
The number of zero-dose children in India fell to 6.79 lakh in 2025 from 9.09 lakh in 2024. In 2023, the figure stood much higher at 15.92 lakh. Zero-dose children are those who have not received even a single dose of routine vaccines due to lack of access, limited healthcare reach, or other barriers affecting immunisation services.
For the first time since WUENIC estimates began in 2001, India was not included among the top 10 countries with the highest number of unvaccinated children against measles. Health officials said the progress reflects improvements under the country’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) and continued efforts to strengthen vaccination coverage across different communities.
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To reach children who remain outside regular health services, India has introduced targeted vaccination campaigns focused on urban slums, migrant populations, remote areas, and communities affected by vaccine hesitancy. According to the report, around 95 per cent of children in India are now fully protected against the third dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine (DTP3) and the second dose of the measles vaccine (MCV2).
Globally, the report estimated that around 13.5 million children received no vaccines during their first year of life in 2025. Although this was a decline of nearly 7.5 lakh children compared with the previous year, health agencies warned that progress remains uneven, with many children beginning vaccination schedules but failing to complete them.
The report noted that global DTP vaccination coverage improved slightly in 2025, with 90 per cent of infants receiving at least one DTP dose and 85 per cent completing the three-dose series. However, coverage remains below 2019 levels, and measles vaccination rates continue to fall short of the 95 per cent threshold required to prevent outbreaks. In 2025, 57 countries reported major or disruptive measles outbreaks.
WHO and UNICEF officials said conflict, displacement, poverty, misinformation, and funding challenges continue to prevent millions of children from receiving life-saving vaccines. They called on governments and partners to strengthen immunisation systems, improve healthcare access in vulnerable regions, increase investment in vaccination programmes, and rebuild public trust to ensure every child receives essential protection against preventable diseases.
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