100M Vaccines Reach 18M Kids After Pandemic Disruptions

Millions of children who missed lifesaving vaccines during the pandemic are now protected, thanks to a groundbreaking global effort that wrapped up in March 2026.

The Big Catch-Up delivered more than 100 million vaccine doses to 18.3 million children across 36 countries between 2023 and 2025. The campaign focused on kids aged one to five who fell through the cracks when COVID-19 disrupted healthcare systems worldwide.

The numbers tell a powerful story. Of the children reached, 12.3 million had never received a single vaccine in their lives. Another 15 million had no protection against measles, a highly contagious disease that can be deadly for young children.

Launched during World Immunization Week in 2023, the initiative marked the first time global health agencies systematically targeted older children instead of just infants. The participating countries, mostly in Africa and Asia, account for 60 percent of unvaccinated children worldwide.

Some nations saw remarkable success. Ethiopia reached over 2.5 million previously unvaccinated children, while Nigeria delivered vaccines to about 2 million kids with zero doses. A dozen countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Somalia, and Pakistan managed to reach more than 60 percent of children who had missed their first routine vaccines.

The Ripple Effect

The campaign did more than close immunity gaps. It strengthened entire healthcare systems, teaching governments how to find and reach the most vulnerable children.

Countries trained health workers, updated policies to include older kids, and worked directly with communities to build trust. These improvements will help protect future generations from missing critical vaccines.

The campaign also delivered 23 million doses of polio vaccine, supporting efforts to wipe out the disease completely. This matters because just one unvaccinated child can restart an outbreak that spreads across borders.

The progress comes at a crucial time. Measles cases surged to 11 million globally in 2024, driven by vaccination gaps left by the pandemic. Without interventions like The Big Catch-Up, those numbers would have been far worse.

The work continues. In 2024 alone, 14.3 million infants still received no vaccines through routine programs. Many live in conflict zones or remote areas where healthcare remains out of reach.

"The Big Catch-Up shows what is possible when governments, partners and communities work together to reach the most vulnerable," said Gavi CEO Dr. Sania Nishtar. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called it a reversal of one of the pandemic's most serious health impacts.

Health experts stress that catch-up campaigns can't replace strong routine immunization systems. But this initiative proved that when the world works together, millions of children get the protection they deserve.