679,000 Indian children zero-dose in 2025: WHO report
UPSC / SSC current affairs note
Why in news
The WHO-UNICEF report reveals that 679,000 Indian children did not receive any vaccine in their first year in 2025, highlighting persistent gaps in immunization coverage. This is part of a global issue where 13.5 million children remain zero-dose, with India contributing significantly.
Background
Zero-dose children are those who have not received a single dose of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine. Global immunization coverage dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been recovering slowly. India has a large immunization program under Mission Indradhanush.
Key facts
In 2025, an estimated 13.5 million children globally were zero-dose (no vaccine in first year).
India had 679,000 zero-dose children, second only to Nigeria (2.2 million).
90% of infants globally received at least one DTP dose; 85% completed the three-dose series.
Global DTP coverage rose by 1 percentage point from 2024 but remains below 2019 levels.
7.3 million infants globally received first DTP dose but dropped out before measles vaccine.
Measles coverage: 84% for first dose (MCV1), 77% for second dose (MCV2) – below 95% threshold.
57 countries reported large or disruptive measles outbreaks in 2025.
Most zero-dose children live in countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Prelims pointers
- WHO-UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC)
- Zero-dose child: no DTP vaccine in first year
- DTP vaccine: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis
- MCV1 and MCV2: measles-containing vaccine doses
- Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
- Mission Indradhanush (India's immunization program)
- Nigeria: highest zero-dose children in 2025
Mains angles
- GS2: Health – immunization coverage, challenges in reaching zero-dose children
- GS2: Role of international organizations (WHO, UNICEF, Gavi) in global health
- GS3: Public health interventions and disease outbreaks (measles)
- GS2: Government schemes – Mission Indradhanush, Universal Immunization Programme