Decline in percentage of zero-dose children due to govt’s proactive, inclusive approach: Health Ministry

INDIA'S percentage of zero-dose children to the total population has declined from 0.11 per cent in 2023 to 0.06 per cent in 2024, positioning it as a global exemplar in child health, as acknowledged by the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation in its 2024 report, the Union Health Ministry said here.

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According to WHO, zero-dose children are defined as those who lack access to or are never reached by routine immunisation services. They are operationally measured as those who did not receive their first dose of DTP (diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis).

The ministry credited the decline in such children to its unwavering commitment to immunisation evident through its Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), which provides free vaccination services annually to 2.9 crore pregnant women and 2.6 crore infants (0'-1 year).

At the same time, it asserted that any comparison of India with any other countries with high burden zero dose children needs to take into consideration India's large population size and high vaccination coverage rate.

Vaccination remains one of the most powerful and cost-effective public health interventions, the ministry said in a statement, noting that the government has taken a proactive and inclusive approach to reach underserved populations.

"Our healthcare workers ASHAs and ANMs conduct over 1.3 crore immunisation sessions across the country," the statement said. "As a result of the continued, sustained efforts and intensified implementation of vaccination drives and campaign across the country, the percentage of zero-dose children to the total population has declined from 0.11 per cent in 2023 to 0.06 per cent in 2024," it said.

The approach remains progressive, and continuous efforts are being made in the current year to further reduce the burden of zero-dose children in the country, it said.