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India saw a major decline in zero-dose children in 2025, with 6.79 lakh children missing routine vaccinations compared to 9.09 lakh in 2024, WHO-UNICEF data showed. The country also exited the top 10 list of nations with the highest number of unvaccinated measles children, driven by targeted immunisation campaigns.

India recorded a sharp decline in the number of zero-dose children in 2025, with 6,79,000 children missing all routine vaccinations, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)-UNICEF estimates of National Immunisation Coverage (WUENIC) released on Wednesday.

The figure marks a significant improvement from 9,09,000 in 2024 and 15,92,000 in 2023. Zero-dose children are those who have not received a single routine vaccine because they either lack access to or are not reached by immunisation services.

For the first time since WUENIC estimates were introduced in 2001, India has also moved out of the list of the 10 countries with the highest number of unvaccinated children against measles. Officials said the achievement reflects the country's sustained efforts under the Expanded Programme of Immunisation (EPI) and its commitment to universal vaccination.

To improve vaccine coverage, India has launched focused campaigns targeting zero-dose children in urban slums, migratory populations, hard-to-reach regions and communities affected by vaccine hesitancy. As a result, 95% of children in the country are now fully protected against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP3) as well as the second dose of the measles vaccine (MCV2), officials told this paper.