Immunization

Overview  |  What we do What we do  |  Reports and resources Reports  |  Data and insights Data  |  News and features News Vaccines are among the greatest advances in global health and development. For over two centuries, they've safely reduced the scourge of diseases like polio, measles and smallpox, helping children grow up happy and healthy. …, What we do, A young boy with his head tilted back and an open mouth is waiting for the polio vaccine to be dropped into his mouth. Together with partners, UNICEF reaches almost half the world’s children with life-saving vaccines each year. In over 100 countries, we work with governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and other United Nations (UN…, Our focus areas, Reaching those most in need, Many of the world’s unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children live in countries affected by conflict and instability. UNICEF works with partners to establish, maintain and improve the cold chain for vaccines and other essential medical supplies, and to put health teams torn apart by conflict back in place. No matter how challenging or remote the…, The supply chain, From procurement to storage, distribution to waste management, UNICEF works across the vaccine supply chain to strengthen systems, build capacity and support innovation.  We strengthen immunization services by providing governments with technical assistance, policy development, guidance and operational support.  UNICEF also helps countries manage…, Vaccine procurement and supply, As one of the world’s largest buyers of vaccines and other life-saving supplies, UNICEF has unique leverage to negotiate the lowest prices. Buying big and being transparent enables us to shape markets, cut costs and increase efficiency – saving more lives. UNICEF's market-shaping efforts have even contributed to the relative stability, and in some…, Technology and innovation, Working with private and public partners, UNICEF steers investment towards new vaccines and technologies – including diagnostic and health technologies, solar technology and digital platforms. We strive to scale up the most appropriate tech to expand the reach of immunization programmes., Disease eradication and elimination, Thanks to continuous work in immunization, the world is close to Eradicating Polio eradicating polio . Vaccination against measles, rubella and tetanus are also bringing us towards the elimination of these diseases in most geographic areas. But the recent backslide of vaccination rates has put more children at risk of preventable diseases. UNICEF…, Environmental sustainability, UNICEF promotes initiatives that optimize waste management and use environmentally friendly products. For example, we support the replacement of absorption fridges with solar technology to strengthen sustainability along the cold chain., Demand for immunization, UNICEF aims to reduce the spread of misinformation and ensure that families have access to accurate data on immunization so they can make the best decisions for their children. We engage communities in designing, delivering and assessing vaccination efforts – starting by listening. Our teams work directly with parents to understand their fears and…, Immunization planning, budgeting and financing, UNICEF works to ensure that vaccines and immunization services are adequately financed by governments and donors, with fully executed and transparent budgets. In collaboration with key partners, our teams also conduct studies and evaluations, and offer direct technical support to immunization programmes globally. Learn more, Reports, Data and insights, data icon Our data research icon Our research innovation icon Our insights, Latest

Polio, the deadly viral disease that was once the leading cause of paralysis among children worldwide, is very close to being eradicated. Since 1988, the number of children affected by polio has reduced by 99 per cent.  UNICEF helps vaccinate over 400 million children globally against polio every year. To eliminate polio completely, every child in…, Resources, Publisher Title GPEI Global Polio Eradication Initiative website GPEI Polio Endgame Strategy 2022-2026 GPEI Polio Investment Case 2022-2026, UNICEF's response, As a spearheading partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), UNICEF helps vaccinate over 400 million children globally against polio every year. Our expertise lies in the supply of safe vaccines, and building trust and motivating parents to vaccinate their children against polio. Working across 190 countries, in some of the world’s…

Around forty per cent of un- and under-vaccinated children live in countries that are either partially or entirely affected by conflict. These children are often the most vulnerable to disease outbreaks like measles and polio, which can cause death or profound disability. Children in conflict-affected areas miss out on basic immunizations because…, Resources, Publisher Title UNICEF Compare immunization stats for countries in conflict and those who aren't UNICEF Immunization roadmap: 2018-2030 UNICEF Immunization supply chain interventions  , UNICEF’s response, Yemen. A child receives a diphtheria vaccine. A child is vaccinated against diphtheria at a clinic in Aden, Yemen. Children affected by conflict are pushed into a downward spiral of deprivation that robs them of their health. Vaccines can help to break this vicious cycle but getting vaccination supplies to those in need is often a matter of life…