Over 9 lakh Indian children did not receive single dose of any routine vaccination in 2024: WHO
New Delhi: India recorded over 9 lakh children who did not receive a single dose of any routine vaccine in 2024, according to new data released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF.
These ‘zero-dose’ children—those completely missed by routine immunisation services—make India the country with the second-highest number globally, behind Nigeria, which reported 2.1 million such cases.
However, Union Health Ministry officials quoted by The New Indian Express noted that India’s absolute numbers should be viewed in the context of its large population. “India, due to its population size, will always come among the top ten countries,” they opined.
Despite the figures, there’s a marked improvement. According to Dr Vivek Singh, Chief of Health at UNICEF, India’s immunisation coverage now exceeds global averages across all vaccines, with the country recording the largest decline in zero-dose children—from 15.92 lakh in 2023 to 9.09 lakh in 2024.
“The vast improvements in coverage reflect India’s strong national leadership and commitment to immunisation as a public health priority, and its vision where every child is protected from vaccine-preventable diseases,” TNIE quoted Singh as saying.
According to Union Health Ministry officials, India has consistently maintained vaccination coverage above 90% since 2019, barring temporary disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. “System-strengthening efforts through intensified catch-up campaigns have helped reach the children who missed routine vaccinations. The oversight has helped reduce zero-dose children by 43% from 2023 figures,” the news outlet quoted the officials as saying.
The UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) also recognised India as a global model in reducing child illness and mortality.
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Bengaluru metro’s yellow line gets safety approval, launch expected soon
Bengaluru: The Yellow Line of Namma Metro, running from RV Road to Bommasandra, has received the required safety clearance to begin passenger services. The clearance came from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (Southern Circle), A M Chowdhary, who submitted his report on Friday, reported Deccan Herald.
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is now reviewing the report.
Quoting officials the report mentioned that they will need a few days to meet the conditions mentioned before starting operations.
The 19.15-km corridor will connect key areas in South Bengaluru, including Silk Board Junction and Electronics City. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate the line, but the final date depends on his availability. BMRCL has tentatively set August 15 as the launch date.
Initially, the line will operate with three driverless trains, running every 20 minutes. The frequency will be improved once more trains are available, with full services expected by March 2026, offering trains every five minutes or less during peak hours.
