The Union Health Ministry has reported a significant decline in the number of zero-dose children in India, those who have not received even a single vaccine. According to official data the percentage of zero-dose children dropped from 0.11% in 2023 to 0.06% in 2024. This improvement is credited to intensified immunization drives, targeted interventions, and a stronger outreach to underserved communities.
India’s achievements in immunization have received global recognition. The United Nations Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) acknowledged India’s progress in its 2024 report, calling the country a global success story in child health. Additionally, India was awarded the Measles and Rubella Champion Award by the Measles and Rubella Partnership, which includes organizations like the WHO, UNICEF, GAVI, and the CDC. The award was presented in Washington DC in March 2024.
The Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), one of the world’s largest public health initiatives, has expanded significantly over the years. From initially offering six vaccines in 2013, it now includes 12 vaccines covering diseases like rotavirus, pneumococcal infection, measles-rubella, and more. The programme currently targets over 2.6 crore infants and 2.9 crore pregnant women annually through 1.3 crore+ immunization sessions.
Immunization efforts have also positively impacted other health indicators. India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) dropped from 130 per 100,000 live births (2014–16) to 88 per 100,000 (2020–22). According to UN estimates, the current MMR stands at 80 per 100,000, a reduction of 86% since 1990, significantly ahead of the global average decline of 48%. Similarly, under-five and neonatal mortality rates have dropped by 78% and 70% respectively since 1990.
Targeted campaigns such as Mission Indradhanush and the Zero Dose Implementation Plan 2024 focused on 143 districts across 11 states. These covered areas with high vaccine hesitancy, urban slums, and migratory populations. India has also maintained its polio-free status since 2014 and eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus in 2015.
With DTP-1 coverage at 93% and a significant drop in dropout rates for follow-up doses, India continues to lead global immunization efforts. The Health Ministry highlighted that comparisons with other countries should consider India’s vast birth cohort and the scale of its immunization operations.
(Rehash/Sakshi Thakar/MSM/SE)