100 Million Vaccines Reach 18 Million Kids Worldwide

Eighteen million children who missed their vaccines during the pandemic are now protected from deadly diseases, thanks to the largest catch-up vaccination effort in history.

The Big Catch-Up delivered more than 100 million vaccine doses between 2023 and 2025 across 36 countries in Africa and Asia. The initiative focused on children aged 1 to 5 who fell through the cracks when health services shut down during COVID-19.

Among those reached, 12.3 million were "zero-dose children" who had never received any vaccine before. Another 15 million had never gotten their measles shot, leaving them vulnerable to a disease that kills thousands of children each year.

The program went beyond standard infant vaccination schedules for the first time. Health workers actively searched for older children who should have been vaccinated before age one but were missed.

In Ethiopia alone, more than 2.5 million previously unvaccinated children received their first doses. Nigeria reached 2 million zero-dose children, while twelve countries successfully vaccinated over 60% of all their missed children under five.

The initiative didn't just deliver shots. Countries updated policies on age eligibility, trained health workers to screen for missed vaccinations during routine visits, and built systems to track coverage in hard-to-reach communities.

The Ripple Effect

These improvements stick around long after the campaign ends. Health systems in participating countries can now better identify and reach children in fragile, conflict-affected, and underserved areas who typically miss out on care.

The 36 countries involved account for 60% of all zero-dose children worldwide. By strengthening their vaccination programs, the Big Catch-Up created lasting protection not just for these 18 million kids, but for their siblings, classmates, and future children too.

The program also delivered 23 million doses of polio vaccine to under-vaccinated children, bringing the world closer to eradicating a disease that once paralyzed thousands.

Health officials stress that while catch-up campaigns save lives, the real goal is preventing gaps in the first place. The Big Catch-Up proved that when governments, health workers, and communities work together with proper resources, reaching every child is possible.

Millions of children still miss routine vaccinations each year, but this historic effort shows the path forward: better systems, trained staff, community engagement, and political commitment to protect the most vulnerable.