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My child missed some vaccines — what should I do now?
If your child missed vaccine doses, they can usually still catch up. Talk to your doctor about a plan.
Your child is not the general case. Ask about yours →
What it is
Missing vaccine doses is common, and it happens all over the world. In 2025, about 13.5 million infants worldwide did not receive an initial dose of the DTP vaccine, and another 6 million were only partially vaccinated [2]. Around 85% of infants worldwide received three doses of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) vaccine in 2025 [3]. These global numbers hide big differences between countries, and low-income countries lag behind [3].
When children are not fully vaccinated, immunity gaps appear in the whole population. Measles is a good early warning sign, because it spreads very easily [3]. In 2025, nearly 21 million children missed their routine first dose of measles vaccine [3]. Worldwide, 84% of children had received one dose of measles vaccine by their second birthday, and 77% had received two doses [6].
Vaccines protect against diseases that can cause serious illness, disability or death [3]. Examples include measles, which can lead to blindness, encephalitis or death [6], and bacterial meningitis, which leaves 1 in 5 people with long-term problems after the acute phase [6]. Polio can cause irreversible paralysis, and until it is stopped everywhere, all countries remain at risk [4].
What you can do at home
- Check your child’s immunization record, and bring it with you when you see your doctor or when you travel [10].
- If you are not sure which doses are missing, ask your doctor to review the record with you.
- Ask your doctor how to catch up. Many countries have programmes to reach children who missed doses, and monitoring at local level helps them target these gaps [2].
- If you are planning to travel, ask about immunizations well in advance. Many immunizations should be received at least 1 month before travel [10].
- Some countries require an immunization record for entry, so keep the record with you when you travel [10].
When to see a doctor or go to the emergency department
Vaccines are given to prevent disease, so there is usually no emergency sign linked to a missed dose itself. The sources do not list warning signs for a missed vaccine.
Go to the emergency department or call your local emergency number if your child is unwell, especially with:
- a high fever and a rash [6]
- painful swelling at the side of the face under the ears, fever, headache and muscle aches — these can be signs of mumps, which can lead to viral meningitis [4]
- severe diarrhoea, which can be caused by rotavirus, the most common cause of severe diarrhoeal disease in young children [5]
- signs of meningitis, such as severe headache, stiff neck or confusion — bacterial meningitis is an often-deadly infection [6]
If you are worried about your child at any time, contact your doctor.
Common questions
Can my child still be vaccinated if the schedule was interrupted? The sources do not describe a catch-up schedule. Ask your doctor, who can look at your child’s record and advise you.
Which vaccines exist? Common immunizations include chickenpox, DTaP, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Hib, HPV, influenza, meningococcal, MMR, pneumococcal conjugate, pneumococcal polysaccharide, polio, rotavirus, shingles, Tdap, Td and COVID-19 vaccines [9].
Why do some children miss doses? WHO points to a lack of access to immunization and other health services as a key reason [2]. Of the nearly 20 million un- and under-vaccinated children, around 53% live in 10 countries: Afghanistan, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Yemen [2].
Is it too late if my child is older now? The sources do not give ages for catch-up. Your doctor can tell you what applies where you live, because schedules differ from country to country.
What about travel vaccines? The CDC website has detailed information about immunizations and other precautions for travellers to other countries [10].
Sources
[2] WHO — “Immunization coverage”, section “Key challenges”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/immunization-coverage [3] WHO — “Immunization coverage”, section “Overview”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/immunization-coverage [4] WHO — “Immunization coverage”, section “Global immunization coverage 2025”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/immunization-coverage [5] WHO — “Immunization coverage”, section “Global immunization coverage 2025”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/immunization-coverage [6] WHO — “Immunization coverage”, section “Global immunization coverage 2025”, p. 1 — https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/immunization-coverage [9] MedlinePlus — “Vaccines - immunizations”, section “COMMON IMMUNIZATIONS”, p. 1 — https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002024.htm [10] MedlinePlus — “Vaccines - immunizations”, section “TRAVELERS”, p. 1 — https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002024.htm
This guide summarises published paediatric guidelines. It is not medical advice and does not replace your paediatrician. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
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