December 22, 2025
Global livestock vaccination coverage is low, and increasing coverage could strengthen economies and protect health in vulnerable countries.
A One Health Trust study provides the first global estimates and analysis of vaccination coverage and incidence for 104 livestock diseases among cattle, poultry, and pigs in 203 countries and territories from 2005 to 2025.
- <9% of poultry vaccinated for Marek’s disease
- <7% of pigs vaccinated for swine fever
- <8% of cattle vaccinated for rabies
The potential impact of global improvement in livestock vaccination:
- Increased productivity and economic gains – Low- and middle-income countries would likely see the greatest beneift as they endure higher livestock mortality.
- Climate change mitigation – Vaccination helps farmers raise fewer animals while maintaining the same production levels, reducing the environmental impact of livestock farming.
- Antibiotic resistance control – Vaccination lowers reliance on antibiotics, decreasing the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria spreading to humans, animals, and the environment.
The greatest reductions in global livestock disease burden would come from prioritizing the expansion of vaccination efforts:
- For poultry in Brazil, China, and Iran
- For pigs in China and Russia
- For cattle in Argentina and India
Learn more in the article out in PNAS, “Global Vaccination Coverage and Disease Incidence in Cattle, Pigs, and Poultry.”
