Global vaccine drive reaches 18.3M children after COVID-19 setbacks: UN agencies

A global effort to restore vaccination coverage after disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic has reached 18.3 million children in 36 countries, UN agencies said Friday.

The initiative, known as the Big Catch-Up, delivered more than 100 million doses of vaccines between 2023 and 2025, targeting children age 1 to 5 who had missed routine immunizations.

The campaign was led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

About 12.3 million of the children reached had never received a single vaccine, the agencies said in a statement, while 15 million had missed measles immunization. The program also administered 23 million doses of the inactivated polio vaccine.

The agencies warned that despite the progress, catch-up campaigns alone are not enough to close global immunization gaps.

“Catch-up vaccination is an important strategy for closing immunisation gaps,” they said, but stressed that expanding routine immunization systems remains the most effective way to protect children.

The initiative focused heavily on countries in Africa and Asia, which account for around 60% of all “zero-dose” children globally.

Health officials said the program helped strengthen national systems by training health workers, improving monitoring, and expanding outreach to underserved communities.

But challenges remain. In 2024, an estimated 14.3 million infants worldwide did not receive a single routine vaccine, according to the statement.

Agencies also warned of rising measles outbreaks, with 11 million cases recorded globally in 2024 and a sharp increase in countries experiencing large outbreaks.

They called for sustained investment and stronger immunization systems to ensure long-term protection for children, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected regions.

"Timely vaccination according to national immunisation schedules provides optimal protection and continues to be the most sustainable way to safeguard children and communities," they added.