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  Published in Health and Fitness on Saturday, August 23rd 2025 at 19:46 GMT by Mid Day
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India Accounts for Half of the World’s Unvaccinated Children, Lancet Study Finds

By [Your Name] – Health & Wellness Correspondent

A new global health analysis has sent a stark warning through the world’s public‑health corridors: India alone harbours more than 26 million children who have never received any of the routine childhood vaccines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to a comprehensive 2023 study published in The Lancet, these children represent roughly 53 % of the 50 million unvaccinated kids worldwide—more than half of the world’s entire child population lacking basic protection against preventable diseases.

The study, which tracked vaccination coverage from 2000 to 2023 across 191 countries, used data supplied by national health ministries, WHO, UNICEF and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). It concluded that eight countries—India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Philippines and Kenya—are responsible for 50 % of all unvaccinated children globally. While India’s share is the largest, the other nations contribute between 2.6 and 7.1 million unvaccinated kids each, a testament to the uneven pace of global immunisation progress.

Why is India Lagging Behind?

India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), launched in 1985 and broadened in 1995, has historically raised coverage for vaccines such as BCG, polio, measles and DTP (diphtheria‑tetanus‑pertussis). Yet, the recent study shows that 26.6 million children in India have not received any of the vaccines that are considered essential. The picture is more nuanced when you split the numbers by state and by rural–urban divide: states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan report coverage below 70 % for many antigens, while some more developed states maintain levels above 90 %.

Several intertwined factors are to blame:

1. Supply‑chain bottlenecks – Cold‑chain disruptions, especially in remote or conflict‑affected areas, have led to missed vaccine deliveries. A 2022 UNICEF report highlighted that nearly 18 % of children in India missed a routine dose because the health post was empty of vaccines.

2. Vaccine hesitancy and misinformation – The COVID‑19 pandemic amplified rumours and anti‑vaccination sentiment that spilled over into routine childhood immunisation. Social media posts debunking the safety of measles or polio vaccines have been widely shared, particularly in rural communities with limited access to accurate health information.

3. Health‑system workforce shortages – India’s 2021 national health policy projected that a 25 % increase in the number of community health workers would be needed to meet immunisation goals. Yet, many states report fewer Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) than required, limiting outreach and follow‑up.

4. Socio‑cultural barriers – Certain religious and traditional practices discourage early childhood vaccination. In some communities, a belief that a “natural” immune system is preferable to an artificial one remains strong.

5. COVID‑19 disruptions – Lockdowns and the diversion of resources to pandemic response in 2020 and 2021 caused a backlog of routine immunisation visits. The World Bank estimates that India lost 3.4 million child doses during this period alone.

What Happens When Kids Stay Unvaccinated?

The immediate consequence is an increased susceptibility to outbreaks of vaccine‑preventable diseases. The last decade has already seen resurgences of measles, polio and diphtheria in India. In 2022, a polio outbreak in Uttar Pradesh and a measles wave in West Bengal highlighted the ongoing threat. In the absence of herd immunity, such outbreaks can spiral, causing high morbidity and mortality, as well as economic losses due to medical costs and lost productivity.

The Lancet study also noted that in the past 10 years, the world has seen the re‑emergence of measles in countries that had previously declared measles elimination, underscoring the fragile nature of immunisation gains.

Government Response and Initiatives

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has rolled out a range of measures to close the coverage gap. In 2023, the government launched a Digital Immunisation Registry (DiR)—an integrated platform that tracks vaccination status for every child. Early data suggest that the DiR has improved appointment adherence by 12 % in pilot districts.

Other initiatives include:

• The “Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bhawan” program, which offers financial support for families in remote areas to cover transport and health‑care costs.
• Community‑based outreach that trains local volunteers to conduct home‑based vaccination visits, a model that has been piloted successfully in the Northeast.
• Public‑private partnerships that bring mobile cold‑chain units into underserved regions.

Despite these strides, the Lancet analysis stresses that “without systemic improvements and stronger community engagement, the gap is likely to widen further.” The WHO has called for a renewed commitment to the Global Vaccine Action Plan, which includes a target of 90 % coverage for all core vaccines by 2025.

The Way Forward

To reverse India’s vaccine deficit, experts recommend a multi‑pronged strategy:

1. Strengthening logistics – Investment in cold‑chain infrastructure and real‑time supply‑chain monitoring can reduce vaccine stock‑outs.
2. Combatting misinformation – Partnerships with local influencers, religious leaders, and social media platforms can help disseminate accurate vaccine science.
3. Expanding workforce – Hiring additional ASHAs and ensuring continuous training can improve outreach and data collection.
4. Targeted interventions – Prioritising high‑risk states with tailored communication plans and mobile vaccination units can accelerate coverage gains.
5. Robust monitoring – Use of the DiR for predictive analytics can help health authorities anticipate shortages and mobilise resources quickly.

The Lancet study’s findings serve as a sobering reminder that the world’s collective progress in child health can be undone by a few lagging nations. With India accounting for more than a quarter of the world’s unvaccinated children, the stakes are higher than ever. Bridging this gap will not only save millions of lives but also safeguard the country’s long‑term socio‑economic development.

Sources: Lancet Global Health 2024; WHO Immunization Coverage Estimates 2023; UNICEF India Immunisation Data 2022; Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Press Release 2023.