What's happened
The latest UNICEF/WHO data show zero-dose children remain concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria and Yemen among the hardest hit. Cameroon's RTS,S malaria vaccine is reducing severe illness, but booster uptake is slipping, while global funding cuts threaten progress. The trend underscores uneven access to vaccines and the ongoing fight against preventable diseases.
What's behind the headline?
Critical analysis
- The latest data highlight persistent gaps in routine immunisation, especially among the world’s most fragile settings. UNICEF warns that even where progress is evident, the pace is slow and uneven, risking missing targets for reducing unvaccinated children by 2030.
- The Cameroonian case shows multi-dose vaccination is feasible but adherence to full schedules remains fragile; booster uptake is a bottleneck that could erode gains if not addressed.
- Funding dynamics, including aid cuts, are a key driver shaping immunisation trajectories. Gavi’s commitments help sustain supply, but long-term financing and governance in recipient countries will determine outcomes.
- The wider measles resurgence adds urgency to restore confidence and coverage in both high- and low-income settings, reinforcing the need for stable funding and transparent reporting.
How we got here
Vaccination coverage has improved in some regions, but progress is uneven. The 2025 data indicate that 74 countries have more zero-dose children than in 2019, with conflict and population growth driving challenges. Cameroon has introduced RTS,S, while global aid cuts complicate rollout in low-income countries.
Our analysis
According to the Independent, WHO and UNICEF report 2025 zero-dose figures, noting that over half of affected children live in sub-Saharan Africa. Cameroon’s RTS,S vaccine rollout is described alongside concerns about booster uptake; Gavi’s support is highlighted amid aid cuts. AP News echoes the Cameroon experience, stressing booster challenges and the broader malaria burden in Africa. See also Ghana, Kenya and Malawi vaccine pilot data on dose completion.
Go deeper
- What are governments doing to boost booster uptake for multi-dose vaccines?
- How are aid cuts affecting vaccine distribution and health outcomes in fragile countries?
- When can we expect clearer models attributing declines in malaria and vaccine-preventable diseases to specific interventions?
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