A key marker of immunization coverage is the proportion of children who receive the third dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis-containing (DTP) vaccine. The term “zero-dose” is used to describe children who have not received even a first dose of DTP-containing vaccines. It is increasingly recognized that zero-dose children are less likely to receive other primary health care services — so reaching them with immunization can be of further benefit by serving as an entry point to other health, nutrition, and social services.

MOMENTUM is working to understand the unique challenges faced by zero-dose children and their communities, and the interventions that can effectively reach them. The project is also fostering innovation to map private health care providers and examining the intersections between provider footprints and the likely locations of zero-dose children. Collectively, these efforts seek to support advocacy and drive strategic decision-making on zero-dose policies and programs by global, regional, and country-level immunization stakeholders.

MOMENTUM is committed to immunizing zero-dose children and has produced the following resources to expand the evidence base on immunization and child health. If you consult or download any of these resources, we welcome your feedback on their value and/or suggestions for future work.