Vaccinating Children, Saving Lives

A growing number of children are receiving the vaccine for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP), signalling that continued progress is being made by countries working to protect children.

“Vaccines save lives, allowing individuals, families, communities, economies, and nations to flourish,” exclaims Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “It’s encouraging to see a continued increase in the number of children being vaccinated, although we still have a lot of work to do.”

In 2023, 171,000 more children received at least one vaccine, and one million more completed the full three-dose DTP series. In 2024, 89% of infants globally – or some 115 million – received at least one dose of the DTP-containing vaccine, while 85% – or roughly 109 million – completed all three doses. A combination of factors explains why children remain un- or under-vaccinated, including limited access to immunisation services, disrupted supply, conflict and instability, or misinformation about vaccines. There are also efforts to broaden protection against vaccine-preventable diseases, like human papillomavirus (HPV), meningitis, pneumococcal disease, polio, and rotavirus. WHO and UNICEF call on governments and relevant partners to protect millions of children in lower-income countries, strengthen immunisation in conflict and fragile settings, prioritise local-led strategies and domestic investment, counter misinformation and further increase vaccine uptake through an evidence-based approach, and invest in stronger data and disease surveillance systems to guide high-impact immunisation programs.