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India Surges Past Pre-Pandemic Measles Vaccine Levels
18 Jul
Summary
- India's measles vaccine coverage now exceeds pre-pandemic levels.
- 98% of children received at least one dose, 95% received both.
- India is no longer among countries with most unvaccinated children.
India has demonstrated outstanding progress in child measles vaccination, with one-dose coverage reaching 98% and two-dose coverage at 95% as of 2025. This marks the first year India has not been listed among countries with the highest number of unvaccinated children, underscoring significant achievements over the past decade. The nation has successfully surpassed its pre-pandemic vaccination rates from 2019, a feat the rest of the world is still striving to match.
Despite these high national coverage figures, India recorded 18,774 measles cases in 2025. Experts explain that measles' high contagiousness (R0 of 12-16) means even small unvaccinated pockets can fuel outbreaks. Furthermore, achieving herd immunity requires sustained coverage above 90%, and the 95% national average may mask lower rates in specific areas. Efforts continue to reach the remaining 6.79 lakh children who missed any vaccine dose, including migratory families and those who refuse vaccination.
