Gavi 5.0 Strategy Targets Zero-Dose Children

About 10% of children in Gavi-supported countries do not receive a single dose of routine vaccines.

To reach these missing millions, Gavi announced on July 11, 2024, that the 5.0 Strategy intends to reduce the number of zero-dose children by 25% by 2025 and 50% by 2030.

The new strategy will focus on reaching the most marginalized by strengthening primary healthcare systems, building and sustaining community demand, addressing gender barriers, and using innovation to ensure immunization services reach these children.

Available data suggests the largest disruptions were concentrated in Q2 2020, with the majority of countries restoring routine immunization services in the second half of the year. Over 75% of under-immunised children are now zero-dose, heightening the risk of child deaths, disease outbreaks, and medical impoverishment.

In 2000, just 47% of children in lower-income countries received essential vaccines.

In Gavi-eligible countries, coverage of critical vaccines increased by three percentage points from 2015 to 2019, and the number of zero-dose children was reduced by 14%.

In 2019, coverage for the same countries reached 82% before sliding back to 78% due to the pandemic.

According to data published by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, in 2022, 20.5 million children in India missed out on one or more vaccines delivered through routine immunization services.

Gavi wrote, 'The importance of immunization reaching all children is paramount and ensures all children have an equal chance of being healthy and productive members of society.'

'Vaccination, because of its preventative nature, averts illness and provides particularly significant benefits to zero-dose communities which may lack access to affordable, quality curative care while being at higher risk of vaccine-preventable diseases.'

'Immunised children are also more likely to grow up healthy and enjoy their survival and development rights. Vaccinated children have higher cognitive abilities, miss school less and are in school for longer, and have better nutrition and education outcomes – all of which translates into better-earning potential and productivity as an adult.'