Vaccination remains one of the most cost-effective public health interventions, preventing millions of deaths each year. Recent global efforts have focused not only on sustaining high coverage for routine childhood immunizations but also on deploying new vaccines, addressing COVID-19 booster needs, and overcoming hesitancy to ensure equitable access.
Global Immunization Coverage and Progress
In 2023, an estimated 14.5 million “zero-dose” children, those who received no routine vaccines were identified, underscoring persistent gaps in reaching vulnerable populations. Coverage for the third dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) vaccine stood at 84 %, while the first dose of measles vaccine reached 83 %, both still below pre-pandemic levels of around 86 % World Health Organization (WHO)World Health Organization (WHO). Despite challenges, global initiatives have saved an estimated 154 million lives over the past 50 years through coordinated immunization campaigns World Health Organization (WHO).
COVID-19 Booster Campaigns Evolve
As SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to circulate, many countries have adapted their booster recommendations. In May 2025, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) affirmed that clinical guidance and schedules for COVID-19 vaccines remain largely unchanged, while focusing updated compositions on high-risk groups CDC. Advisory discussions in April 2025 considered narrowing booster eligibility to vulnerable populations (e.g., elderly, immunocompromised) for the 2025–2026 season, aiming to balance protection with resource allocation Reuters.
Deployment of New Vaccines: RSV and Malaria
RSV Vaccines: After FDA approval in June 2024 for GSK’s Arexvy in adults aged 50–59 years, and earlier approvals for Pfizer’s Abrysvo in those 60+, RSV immunization is now an option for older adults at increased risk of severe respiratory disease CDCPfizer. Moderna’s mResVIA mRNA RSV vaccine, approved in late 2024, further expands choices for those 60 and older, with rollouts underway in multiple regions CDC.
Malaria Vaccines: In January 2024, the WHO’s AMVIRA initiative began scaling up malaria vaccine introductions across 17 endemic African countries, bolstering programs delivering the RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) and R21/Matrix-M vaccines to children in high-transmission zones World Health Organization (WHO)World Health Organization (WHO).
Reinvigorating Routine Immunization
The 2024 Global Vaccine Market Report highlights that 88 vaccine products were distributed across 207 countries, yet service disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic caused 67 million children to miss at least one dose between 2020–2022 World Health Organization (WHO)UNICEF. Efforts to restore routine coverage include integrated outreach campaigns combining childhood immunizations with nutrition and deworming services, particularly in low-resource and conflict-affected areas.
Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy and Equity
Confidence in vaccines declined in several regions during the pandemic, with some countries seeing up to a 44 percentage-point drop in trust for routine childhood vaccines UNICEF. To counter this, community-based education, engagement of local leaders, and transparent communication about safety and efficacy have been prioritized. Expanding broadband access and mobile-health platforms also supports remote appointment scheduling and follow-up reminders, helping reduce missed opportunities.
Digital Strategies Strengthen Campaigns
The TAG-CO-VAC meeting in May 2025 called for standardized data sharing on vaccine antigen composition, urging manufacturers to publish immunogenicity and variant-coverage data to inform global decisions World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO’s Immunization Data Portal provides real-time dashboards on vaccine-preventable disease trends, equipping policymakers with insights to target resources where gaps are greatest Immunization Data.
Challenges and Future Outlook
Key challenges include ensuring sustainable financing, harmonizing regulatory pathways for new vaccines, and safeguarding cold-chain integrity in remote regions. The Global Strategy for Immunization 2025–2030 emphasizes multisectoral collaboration, workforce development, and leveraging digital tools for surveillance and outreach. Continued investment and policy support will be critical to achieving Universal Health Coverage goals and ensuring that “no one is left behind.”
Conclusion
Recent vaccination efforts demonstrate a dual focus on restoring routine immunization to pre-pandemic levels and integrating new vaccine technologies for RSV, malaria, and COVID-19 boosters. By combining evidence-based campaigns with targeted digital strategies and community engagement, global health systems are better positioned to protect all age groups, especially the most vulnerable from vaccine-preventable diseases.
