Argentina among Latin American nations with lowest child vaccination coverage, report finds

Argentina is falling behind in child vaccination efforts, ranking among eight Latin American nations that did not achieve at least 90% essential vaccine coverage by 2025. This critical threshold is vital for preventing outbreaks of diseases such as whooping cough, measles, tetanus, and diphtheria.

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In 2025, 27 of the 35 countries in the region achieved 90% or higher coverage in at least one vaccine.

The report, compiled annually by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), identifies Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Suriname, and Venezuela as countries failing to meet the benchmark. Alarmingly, Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, and Bolivia collectively represent more than half of the children in the region who remain unprotected against these infections, even with readily available vaccines.

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Eight countries had not reached 90% coverage with any vaccine: Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Suriname, and Venezuela.

While global vaccination rates saw an improvement, with a reduction in newborns receiving zero doses, a significant concern remains: persistently high and stagnant dropout rates. This trend heightens the risk of disease outbreaks, a situation exacerbated by increased travel during major events. The WHO and UNICEF emphasize that achieving at least 95% coverage with two doses of vaccines like the one for measles is crucial for community protection. The consequences are already visible, with 57 countries reporting outbreaks in 2025 alone, a problem extending beyond measles to diseases like diphtheria.

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The dropout rates remain high and stagnant, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.