Vaccines

Think of a person. Not someone you know. Someone you’ve never met. Picture them on the other side of the world, somewhere you’ve never been.  You share one of humanity’s greatest achievements: immunization. Because like you, they’ve had their childhood vaccines.  In the last 50 years alone, vaccines have saved 154 million lives. That’s 6 people…, UNICEF’s call to action, Vaccines are one of the most effective and cost-efficient public health interventions that exist. But they can’t save lives unless we invest in them. It’s time for governments to re-commit to vaccines. We call on donor countries to financially invest in vaccines. 2024 is a crucial fundraising year if we want to maintain the progress that has been…, Impact and stories, About the campaign, Un jeune garçon sourit en montrant le haut de son bras pour indiquer qu'il est vacciné. Des lignes et des cercles roses colorés sont illustrés en arrière-plan. Humanly Possible is a joint campaign of UNICEF, WHO, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and many other partners and advocates. We’re beginning this global…

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…

A-big-thank-you Protecting the next generation through vaccines is a mission we’ve shared across continents and centuries. It's a mission that’s paid off. Vaccines have saved more lives than any other invention in human history. That’s a remarkable achievement and there are a lot of people who have made that possible. They deserve our gratitude.…, Agatha Nyakayisiki smiles as her mother Josephine Kansiime carries her ahead of receiving a routine immunization. Read this love letter to someone you've never met., His name was James Phipps, and in 1796 when he was just 8 years old, Edward Jenner gave him the first modern vaccine. This vaccine defended him against smallpox. It was inspired by centuries of innovation by the physicians of North Africa, the grandmothers of Constantinople and the doctors of Ming Dynasty China, all seeking ways to protect the…, Our thanks and our gratitude , going-above-and-beyond, Going above and beyond, There are so many people that have gone above and beyond to protect children with vaccines. Of course, all the scientists who have invented lifesaving vaccines down the years. Then there are the volunteers in vaccine trials and the workers who pack vials at factories. Now, imagine all the boat crews, the pilots, the drivers and the healthcare…, Strong health systems, We also pay tribute to every government that takes health care seriously. Because right now, it’s never been clearer. The only way out of an epidemic – or a pandemic – is equitable healthcare and stronger health systems for all. Find out more about what a How the COVID-19 pandemic is proving it’s crucial to improve health systems strong health…, A crucial moment, We say thanks at a pivotal point in time. In the past two decades, more than 1.1 billion children have been immunized. Every year, vaccines save the lives of up to 3 million children. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, for the first time in 30 years, the routine immunization of children has slipped. As we invest to recover from the pandemic, we…, One more important person to thank, You. That’s right. If you’ve ever been vaccinated, you’re part of the arm-to-arm chain that keeps every one of us safe. You are the living proof of what humanity can do. Thank you so much.

This letter was part of the Donate Doses Now campaign. The initiative on vaccine equity ran during 2021 and was led by UNICEF and partner organizations.  Dear G7 leaders, The world has spent a year and a half battling the COVID-19 pandemic, but the virus is still spreading in many countries and producing new variants with the potential to put us…, UNICEF Ambassadors and supporters:, Ramla Ali Fernando Alonso David Beckham Sanjeev Bhaskar Orlando Bloom José Manuel Calderón Sofia Carson Gemma Chan Priyanka Chopra Jonas Olivia Colman Billie Eilish Pau Gasol Whoopi Goldberg Selena Gomez David Harewood Keeley Hawes Sir Chris Hoy Angelique Kidjo Téa Leoni Jeremy Lin Lucy Liu Juan Manuel López Iturriaga Ewan McGregor Leo Messi…

Vaccines save lives., Since the late 18th century, vaccines have reduced the scourge of diseases such as polio, measles and smallpox, saving millions. Now, they are one of our best tools to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and help us get back to the people and things we love and enjoy. Help spread the word that vaccines are safe and effective. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine?…

Every year, millions of children die from causes that are preventable and treatable.  Rates of immunization have been backsliding to their lowest levels in three decades. The story of the children who are not being vaccinated is one of inequity, poverty and underserved communities.  Meanwhile, conflict, economic strife and a changing climate…, What needs to happen, UNICEF is calling on governments and partners to act. Make sure that all children have access to routine immunizations. In 2024, Humanly Possible: Immunization for all vaccines need urgent funding . To ensure that all children have the protection they need to thrive, especially against polio, malaria and human papillomavirus (HPV), large scale…, How UNICEF is responding, A nurse crosses a hand-made bridge carrying a vaccine cooler to reach the remote village of Mansunthu to conduct a mobile vaccination clinic. UNICEF’s mission is to reach every single child with life-saving vaccines.   We’re on the frontlines, bringing doses to the communities that need them the most, including in some of the hardest to reach…, Campaigns and stories, Information for policymakers and partners, A four-year-old child receives an oral dose of the polio vaccine in India. Millions of children continue to miss out on their most basic vaccines. At the same time, severe acute malnutrition is on the rise. Service disruptions, economic chaos, conflict and overburdened health systems have threatened a devastating rise in preventable child deaths…, Information and advice for parents, Vaccines are amongst the greatest advances of modern medicine. They help to keep our families and our communities safe.   Good nutrition is the bedrock of child survival and development. If you’re looking for information on routine childhood vaccinations and good nutrition, this is where to start.