Global Immunization Coverage Stagnates, WHO Reports
Global immunization coverage has remained stagnant since 2023, with insufficient progress towards 2030 targets, according to a July 2025 World Health Organization (WHO) report. Millions of children continue to miss essential vaccinations.
Geneva – Global immunization coverage has held steady since 2023, but progress towards key targets for the Immunisation Agenda 2030 remains insufficient, a World Health Organization (WHO) report released in July 2025 indicates. In 2024, an estimated 14.3 million children missed out on routine immunizations entirely.
The report details that 85% of infants globally received the third dose of the DTP vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis). Coverage for the first dose of the measles vaccine was 84%, still below the 2019 level of 86%. Yellow fever vaccine coverage in at-risk countries stands at only 52%, considerably lower than the recommended 80%.
Significant disparities exist in vaccination coverage between countries, often linked to income levels. While the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine achieved 78% global coverage for three doses, regional variations are stark, ranging from 94% in the European Region to 34% in the Western Pacific Region. For the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, first-dose coverage reached 31% in 2024, a notable increase from 17% in 2019, though still far from the 90% target for 2030.
Hepatitis B vaccine coverage was 83% for three doses globally. However, initial newborn doses varied significantly, from 17% in the African Region to 79% in the Western Pacific Region. The WHO highlighted that malaria remains a major cause of child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, despite the increasing integration of malaria vaccines into national immunization programs.
Despite some improvements, the WHO stresses the need for intensified efforts to bolster vaccination rates and ensure no child is left without essential immunizations.