Immunization

UNICEF was established in the aftermath of World War II to help children whose lives and futures were at risk – no matter what country they were from. More than 75 years after UNICEF’s founding, the world faces a variety of momentous crises including armed conflict, the effects of climate change, economic downturn and the fallout from the COVID-19…, 6 WAYS UNICEF GETS RESULTS, 1. Local presence, global reach, UNICEF is active in more than  190 countries and territories . Our vast network of skilled and committed staff means we can take successful approaches from one place in the world and adapt them to meet challenges elsewhere, helping drive results for children and young people at a global scale.  Safe births: A mother and her newborn 356 million…, 2. Unlocking greater impact for children, As one of the world’s largest buyers of lifesaving supplies such as vaccines and ready-to-use therapeutic food, UNICEF has unique leverage with suppliers. Our expertise in anticipating demand, a strong knowledge of markets and ability to work with industry enables UNICEF to consider production and supply chain challenges, provide timely access to…, 3. Emergency response and readiness, UNICEF is on the ground before, during and after humanitarian emergencies. Our global supply chain and local presence mean we can get help to where it's needed fast – we can ship lifesaving supplies almost anywhere in the world within 72 hours. Just as important, UNICEF stays and delivers. How we respond in crises lays the foundation for long-term…, 4. New solutions to old problems, Innovation is at the heart of UNICEF’s ability to achieve results for children and young people. Our global innovation centre helps scale up proven solutions, while a dedicated innovation fund provides financial resources to promising early-stage projects. The results? A new wave of technologies and products to help us reach the hardest-to-reach…, 5. Powerful partnerships, Strong partnerships with governments, NGOs, civil society and the private sector make UNICEF’s work for children possible. In turn, our credibility, impartiality and record of achieving results make us a partner of choice. Global brands – from Ikea and Lego to Microsoft – leverage their resources and drive innovation to help children and young…, 6. An influential voice for children, UNICEF is the world’s leading voice for – and with – children. Impartial and non-political, we are never silent about violations of children’s rights. Our research and reports are a leading source of data and information on the situation of children and young people around the world for journalists, researchers, policy makers and advocates. Our…

After decades of civil war, Angola achieved peace in 2002. But in the past two decades, despite the end of the conflict, the country has struggled to reach every child with lifesaving vaccines.   Even before the COVID-19 pandemic 30 per cent of children in Angola were identified as zero-dose, leaving them vulnerable to a range of preventable and…

After years of steady decline, cholera has made a devastating comeback. A deadly combination of climate change, underinvestment in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services, and in some cases armed conflict, has put over 1.1 billion people at risk, with children under five particularly vulnerable. UNICEF has established a Global Cholera…

Getting a vaccine can be a scary and daunting experience for some children. Here are some tips for helping to explain what can be a complicated topic in simple and reassuring terms.    , 1. Make sure you’re up to date yourself, Before talking to your children about COVID-19 vaccines, it is important that you understand them yourself. It’s also crucial that you’re able to communicate about these vaccines in ways that your child will understand depending on their age. A great place to start is our conversation with Dr. Mike Varshavski.   , 2. Ask and listen, Invite your child to share what they have heard about COVID-19 vaccines and listen to their responses. There’s a chance they’ll be excited about getting the vaccine and won’t have any worries, but also the prospect that they’ve heard things that will lead to questions and concerns. That’s completely normal and you should be prepared for that. It…, 3. Be honest with them, Children have a right to know what is going on, but it should be explained to them in an age-appropriate way. Keep in mind that kids take their emotional cues from adults, so even if you are worried for your little one knowing that they might be uncomfortable, try not to overshare your fears with your child. Play can be a helpful tool for working…, 4. Let them know you’re doing it for their safety , It’s important that your child understands that you’re taking them to get the COVID-19 vaccine because it will help to keep them healthy and safe. Let them know that you’re doing it to help protect them against severe illness, and to help protect others around them.   , 5. Answer their questions, Here are some effective responses to keep in your back pocket for questions your child may have about COVID-19 vaccines: What is a vaccine? A vaccine is like a shield that protects you from an illness. The vaccine stimulates your body’s natural defenses and prepares your body to fight the disease faster and more effectively.  How do vaccines work…

These case studies offer valuable insights into the application of human-centered design to enhance vaccination rates in zero-dose communities in Nepal, the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Ghana, and Ethiopia's efforts to address behavioral challenges related to COVID-19 and increase vaccination uptake in zero-dose communities. Each story showcases…

This case study provides insight on how to positively impact vaccine attitudes by applying data insights, testing and scaling online vaccine communication interventions in Argentina. Published through a partnership between UNICEF, Meta, the Yale Institute for Global Health (YIGH) and the Public Good Projects (PGP), this case study highlights the…

This case study provides insight on how to positively impact vaccine attitudes by applying data insights, testing and scaling online vaccine communication interventions in the Philippines. Published through a partnership between UNICEF, Meta, the Yale Institute for Global Health and the Public Good Projects, this case study highlights the value of…

The pandemic saw essential immunization levels decrease in over 100 countries, leading to rising outbreaks of measles, diphtheria, polio and yellow fever. ‘The Big Catch-up’ is an extended effort to lift vaccination levels among children to at least pre-pandemic levels and endeavours to exceed those. Led by a broad range of national and global…

NEW YORK, 20 April 2023 – The public perception of the importance of vaccines for children declined during the COVID-19 pandemic in 52 out of 55 countries studied, UNICEF warned today in a new report on immunization. The State of the World’s Children 2023: For Every Child, Vaccination reveals the perception of the importance of vaccines for…

The UNICEF Immunization Roadmap 2022–2030 outlines UNICEF’s priorities for immunization through 2030. It explores how these priorities contribute to overarching strategic goals for health and health systems strengthening, including for pandemic preparedness. It presents a strategic approach to addressing the setbacks that immunization programmes…

Millions of children globally missed out on routine vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, previously controlled diseases like measles and polio have re-emerged.  Now’s the time to catch these children up on their missed vaccines, and #BuildBackImmunity to protect them, their families and their communities.  , The problem, During the COVID-19 pandemic, we witnessed the largest sustained decline in rates of childhood vaccinations in a generation.  Nearly 67 million children missed out on the routine vaccines that keep them safe from deadly disease during the COVID-19 pandemic.  This backsliding happened because routine immunization programmes were unable to reach as…, The solution, There is a solution. Large scale catch-up vaccination campaigns are an immediate solution to protect the children that missed out on their doses in the past few years.  This is an important first step in helping communities and their health systems recover from the shock of the pandemic. Vaccines protect families and communities – all of us – from…, The campaign, We’re beginning this global advocacy campaign on immunization with the launch of UNICEF’s flagship report: “State of the World’s Children – for every child, vaccination”.   The launch of the report will be followed with a series of sustained and coordinated global, regional, and national initiatives, calling on governments to prioritize catch-up…

UNICEF works to safeguard the rights of children, women and their communities before, during and after public health emergencies. A long-term vision for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (PHE-PR) is set out in a new UNICEF White Paper, “Putting the Best Interest of Children, Women and their Communities at the Center of Public…