Big Catch-Up Gave Vaccines to 18.3 Million Children, but Many Still Miss Shots
Big Catch-Up Gave Vaccines to 18.3 Million Children, but Many Still Miss Shots
Introduction
A big campaign called the Big Catch-Up gave more than 100 million vaccine doses to about 18.3 million children. The children were one to five years old. The campaign worked in 36 countries in Africa and Asia. It started in April 2023 and ended in March 2026. The goal was to help children who did not get vaccines because of COVID-19. The World Health Organization, UNICEF, and Gavi said the campaign is close to its target. They want to reach at least 21 million children.
Main Body
The campaign helped children who missed vaccines. During COVID-19, health systems had problems. Many children did not get vaccines. Diseases like measles and polio came back. Between 2023 and 2025, about 12.3 million children had never received any vaccine. 15 million children had not received a measles vaccine. The campaign gave 23 million polio vaccine doses. The 36 countries have 60% of all children who never got a vaccine. The campaign focused on children aged one to five. These children were too old for baby vaccines. For the first time, countries used their normal vaccine systems to find and vaccinate these older children. Countries changed rules, trained health workers, and talked to communities. Twelve countries reached more than 60% of children who missed the first DTP vaccine. Ethiopia alone reached over 2.5 million children with DTP1. It gave almost 5 million polio doses and over 4 million measles doses. But the agencies said catch-up is not enough. In 2024, about 14.3 million babies did not get any routine vaccine. Measles outbreaks grew. In 2024, there were about 11 million measles cases. More countries had big outbreaks. The agencies said this happened because many children still miss routine measles vaccines. Also, some communities trust vaccines less now. Officials talked about other problems. Kate O''Brien from WHO said vaccines are becoming political. Sania Nishtar from Gavi said social media spreads false information. Ephrem Lemango from UNICEF said anti-vaccine content has its own economy. He also said funding cuts hurt vaccine services. The U.S. decided to give less money to Gavi. This could stop progress.
Conclusion
The Big Catch-Up showed that with money and effort, countries can vaccinate older children. But many babies still miss routine vaccines every year. Measles outbreaks are rising. Funding is going down. False information about vaccines spreads. The agencies say we need to make routine vaccine systems stronger. This is the best way to protect children and stop future outbreaks.
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Global ''Big Catch-Up'' Initiative Reaches 18.3 Million Children with Over 100 Million Vaccine Doses, but Routine Immunization Gaps Persist
Introduction
A multi-year global vaccination campaign called the Big Catch-Up (BCU) has delivered more than 100 million vaccine doses to an estimated 18.3 million children aged one to five across 36 countries, mainly in Africa and Asia. The initiative started in April 2023 and ended in March 2026. Its goal was to stop the decline in childhood immunization caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF, the program is on track to reach its target of at least 21 million children who were not vaccinated or only partly vaccinated, although final data are still being collected.
Main Body
The BCU was a coordinated response to pandemic-related disruptions that put pressure on health systems and led to a return of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and polio. Of the children reached between 2023 and 2025, about 12.3 million were classified as ''zero-dose'' – meaning they had never received any vaccine – and 15 million had not previously received a measles vaccine. In addition, 23 million doses of inactivated polio vaccine were given to un- or under-vaccinated children. The 36 participating countries are home to 60% of all zero-dose children worldwide, according to the agencies. The initiative focused on children aged one to five, a group that had become too old for the usual infant vaccination schedules. For the first time, the BCU used routine immunization systems to find, check, and vaccinate these older children. Participating countries updated age rules, trained health workers, and worked with communities to support catch-up efforts. Twelve countries – including Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Niger, Pakistan, and Zambia – reported reaching more than 60% of zero-dose children under five who had missed the first dose of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP1) vaccine. Ethiopia alone reached over 2.5 million previously zero-dose children with DTP1 and gave nearly 5 million doses of IPV and over 4 million doses of measles vaccine. Despite these achievements, the agencies emphasized that catch-up vaccination is an additional measure, not a replacement for strong routine immunization. In 2024, an estimated 14.3 million infants worldwide did not receive a single routine vaccine. The results are clear: measles outbreaks have increased in every region, with about 11 million cases recorded in 2024, and the number of countries experiencing large outbreaks has nearly tripled since 2021. The agencies said this rise is due to ongoing gaps in routine measles vaccination, made worse by falling vaccine confidence in some areas that previously had high coverage. Officials from the three organizations also pointed to other challenges. WHO vaccines director Kate O’Brien noted a growing political influence on vaccines and health. Gavi CEO Sania Nishtar stated that social media algorithms encourage the spread of false information, which she said requires strategic actions to fight it. UNICEF’s global chief of immunization, Ephrem Lemango, observed that algorithms often spread angry content more than accurate information and that there is a market for anti-vaccine material. Lemango also warned that recent large funding cuts to global health – including the U.S. decision to reduce financial support for Gavi, announced by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. – have seriously affected immunization services and could reverse progress that was difficult to achieve.
Conclusion
The Big Catch-Up has shown that targeted investment and political will can reduce immunization gaps among older children. However, the fact that millions of infants still miss routine vaccines each year, combined with rising measles outbreaks, funding reductions, and the spread of vaccine misinformation, highlights the need for continued domestic investment and reliable donor commitments. The agencies argue that strengthening routine immunization systems remains the most effective and sustainable way to protect children and prevent future outbreaks.
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Sentence Learning
Global ''Big Catch-Up'' Initiative Reaches 18.3 Million Children with Over 100 Million Vaccine Doses, but Routine Immunization Gaps Persist
Introduction
A multi-year global vaccination campaign, the Big Catch-Up (BCU), has delivered more than 100 million vaccine doses to an estimated 18.3 million children aged one to five across 36 countries, primarily in Africa and Asia. The initiative, launched in April 2023 and concluded in March 2026, aimed to reverse declines in childhood immunization caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF, the program is on track to meet its target of reaching at least 21 million un- or under-immunized children, though final data are still being compiled.
Main Body
The BCU was a coordinated response to pandemic-related disruptions that strained health systems and led to a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and polio. Of the children reached between 2023 and 2025, approximately 12.3 million were classified as ''zero-dose''—having never received any vaccine—and 15 million had not previously received a measles vaccine. Additionally, 23 million doses of inactivated polio vaccine were administered to un- or under-vaccinated children. The 36 participating countries account for 60% of all zero-dose children globally, according to the agencies. The initiative focused on children aged one to five, a cohort that had aged out of routine infant immunization schedules. For the first time, the BCU systematically leveraged routine immunization systems to identify, screen, and vaccinate these older children. Participating countries updated age-eligibility policies, trained health workers, and engaged communities to support catch-up efforts. Twelve countries—including Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Niger, Pakistan, and Zambia—reported reaching more than 60% of zero-dose children under five who had missed the first dose of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP1) vaccine. Ethiopia alone reached over 2.5 million previously zero-dose children with DTP1 and delivered nearly 5 million doses of IPV and over 4 million doses of measles vaccine. Despite these achievements, agencies emphasized that catch-up vaccination is a complementary measure, not a substitute for robust routine immunization. In 2024, an estimated 14.3 million infants worldwide failed to receive a single routine vaccine. The consequences are evident: measles outbreaks have risen in every region, with approximately 11 million cases recorded in 2024, and the number of countries experiencing large outbreaks has nearly tripled since 2021. The agencies attributed this surge to persistent gaps in routine measles vaccination, compounded by declining vaccine confidence in some previously high-coverage communities. Officials from the three organizations highlighted additional challenges. WHO vaccines director Kate O’Brien noted a growing politicization of vaccines and health. Gavi CEO Sania Nishtar stated that social media algorithms incentivize the promotion of disinformation, which she said requires strategic countermeasures. UNICEF’s global chief of immunization, Ephrem Lemango, observed that algorithms tend to reward outrage over accuracy and that anti-vaccine content has its own economy. Lemango also warned that recent sharp funding cuts to global health—including the U.S. decision to reduce financial support for Gavi, announced by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—have seriously affected immunization service delivery and could reverse hard-earned progress.
Conclusion
The Big Catch-Up has demonstrated that targeted investment and political will can reduce immunization gaps among older children. However, the persistence of millions of infants missing routine vaccines each year, coupled with rising measles outbreaks, funding reductions, and the spread of vaccine misinformation, underscores the need for sustained domestic investment and reliable donor commitments. The agencies maintain that strengthening routine immunization systems remains the most effective and sustainable strategy for protecting children and preventing future outbreaks.