Fact-check analysisVerified as of July 17, 2025Curated by FactVerify
True

According to the U.N., More than 14 million children did not receive a single vaccine last year

According to multiple reports citing U.N. Health officials, more than 14 million children worldwide did not receive a single vaccine in 2024, a figure consistent with the previous year.

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Source: factverify.com

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified July 17, 2025
The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

The claim that more than 14 million children did not receive a single vaccine last year is supported by multiple independent news reports referencing official U.N. Health data. The core factual assertion is that over 14 million children globally missed all routine vaccinations in 2024. This figure is consistently reported across sources such as PBS News, The Independent, AP News, and others, all citing U.N. Health officials or related agencies like WHO and UNICEF.

The reports also note that this number has remained stable compared to the previous year, indicating no significant improvement or worsening in vaccine coverage for this group of 'zero-dose' children. Additional context from CDC and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia sources confirms that the number of zero-dose children is around 14 to 15 million in recent years, reinforcing the claim's accuracy.

The claim does not specify which vaccines or regions, but the U.N. Data typically aggregates global figures for routine childhood immunizations. There is no evidence contradicting this figure or suggesting it is exaggerated; rather, it reflects ongoing challenges in global immunization efforts.

Therefore, the claim is accurate and well-supported by authoritative sources.

Primary trail

Verified Sources5

14 million children did not receive vaccines in 2024, UN reports

pbs.org
Open source

UN says 14 million children did not receive a single vaccine last year

the-independent.com
Open source

14 million children did not receive a single vaccine in 2024, UN estimates

apnews.com
Open source
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