Vaccination is one of the most effective public health interventions, offering substantial health and economic benefits by protecting against infectious diseases. Childhood vaccination against infectious diseases, such as diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP), measles and hepatitis B, has dramatically reduced morbidity and mortality worldwide. For older adults, who are at greater risk from influenza, vaccines provide critical protection, reducing severe illness, hospitalisations, and mortality, and mitigating seasonal pressures on health systems. High national coverage rates, however, may not be sufficient to stop disease spreading if vaccination rates are uneven across regions or among specific population groups. Hence, government action to ensure access to vaccines and garner trust and public confidence in the safety and efficacy of vaccination across all population groups is essential for the success of vaccination programmes.
Figure 6.1 shows vaccination coverage for DTP and measles. Across OECD countries, an average of 89% of children received the recommended measles vaccinations in 2024. Continued gaps in coverage of measles vaccine in specific population groups, including in countries with high coverage at the national level, are propelling outbreaks – measles incidence has reached its highest levels in recent decades in Europe (UNICEF/WHO, 2025[1]) – as well as increasing substantially in North and South America (WHO, 2025[2]). Public perceptions of the importance of vaccines for children declined during the COVID‑19 pandemic in most OECD countries.
In 2024, only six OECD countries reached the minimum measles immunisation (two doses) level recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 95% population coverage. Rates of immunisation for measles, which is often incorporated with rubella and/or mumps vaccination, were particularly low in Mexico (69%), Chile (73%) and Estonia (74%). Compared to pre‑pandemic levels in 2019, measles vaccination rates have decreased on average in OECD countries by nearly 2 percentage points (p.p.) The decrease was particularly substantial in Chile (‑18 p.p.), Estonia and Costa Rica (‑15 p.p.), as well as in Poland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Canada and OECD accession/partner countries Argentina and Romania, with drops of 8 p.p. or more.
Across OECD countries, an average of 93% of children received the recommended DTP vaccinations in 2024. However, more than one in five OECD countries did not meet the minimum immunisation level recommended by WHO for DTP (90%) in 2024, with particularly low rates in Mexico (78%) and Estonia (81%). OECD accession/partner countries including South Africa, Argentina, Romania, Peru and Indonesia also all had coverage of 80% or lower. Children’s vaccination rates for DTP declined slightly on average (by less than 2 p.p.) between 2019 and 2024 in OECD countries, although Estonia and Czechia, as well as OECD accession/partner countries Indonesia and South Africa, had more substantial drops (‑10 p.p. or more).
Influenza is a common seasonal infectious disease, which leads to 3‑5 million severe cases worldwide each year, along with an estimated 650 000 deaths (WHO, 2019[3]). Annual vaccination is recommended for high-risk groups, including adults aged 65 and older. Figure 6.2 shows that the WHO’s target influenza immunisation rate of 75% was only attained in Korea (85%), Mexico (83%), the United Kingdom and Denmark (78%) in 2023. Coverage was below 20% in Poland, Türkiye, the Slovak Republic, Latvia, Slovenia and Hungary, as well as OECD accession country Bulgaria.
Influenza vaccination rates for people aged 65 and over have increased over time, reaching 51% on average across OECD countries in 2024, from 46% in 2019. This reflects expansion of influenza vaccination campaigns and increased awareness. Still, coverage is lower than the high of 55% reached in 2021, which was facilitated by increased awareness of vaccination, and by the practice of co‑administration of COVID‑19 and influenza vaccines that increased access and convenience. Compared to 2019, increases were above 20 p.p. in Denmark and Norway. However, some countries had declines of more than 5 p.p., including Ireland, Israel and Hungary and OECD accession country Croatia.
