Peer-reviewed article
Taking stock of global immunisation coverage progress: the gains, the losses and the journey ahead
Chukwudi A Nnaji, Ayomide Owoyemi, Uchenna Anderson Amaechi, Alison Beriliy Wiyeh, Duduzile Edith Ndwandwe et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This peer-reviewed commentary reviews global immunisation coverage trends using WHO and UNICEF data. While vaccination has brought substantial benefits and coverage has improved globally, progress has stalled in many countries and remains suboptimal. The authors identify supply- and demand-side challenges that prevent reaching and sustaining optimal coverage levels. They call for targeted, context-appropriate strategies to address these barriers.
Key points
- Global immunisation coverage progress has stalled despite enormous benefits of vaccination
- Substantial gains have been made in improving immunisation coverage at the global level
- Numerous challenges remain in reaching and sustaining optimal coverage in many countries
- Both supply-side and demand-side root causes contribute to suboptimal coverage
- Context-appropriate strategies are needed to reach and maintain optimal immunisation coverage
Limitations
This is a commentary that reviews existing data rather than presenting new primary research or evaluation findings. The document does not provide specific country-level data or detailed analysis of particular interventions tested.
Abstract
Despite the enormous benefits of vaccination, global immunisation coverage progress has stalled and remains suboptimal in many countries. In this commentary, we review the recently published update of the World Health Organization and United Nations Children's Fund Estimates of National Immunization Coverage. We highlight trends in which, despite substantial gains made in improving immunisation coverage at the global level, there remain numerous challenges with reaching and sustaining optimal coverage. We contextualise the trends by exploring plausible supply- and demand-side root causes. Based on these, we stress the need for targeted, context-appropriate strategies for reaching and maintaining optimal immunisation coverage.