Vaccines

31 May 2022 When COVID-19 vaccines started to arrive in Bangladesh, people felt a rush of hope. Families and friends could meet again. Life would maybe feel more normal. And it meant schools might reopen.   For children in Bangladesh, the pandemic has been a crisis like no other, affecting their education, health and well-being. About 37 million…, Mammoth task to vaccinate over 115 million people with two doses , Across the country, frontline health workers have been working in urban slums, trekking across fields and navigating rivers to get doses into people’s arms. Thanks to their efforts, over 250 million doses have now been administered, with more than 115 million people receiving two doses of the vaccine.  Young volunteers like Mohammad Al Mamun have…, Key vaccination target within reach , Bangladesh has a strong track record of rolling out mass vaccination programmes, especially for diseases like measles and rubella. But getting COVID-19 doses to communities across the country has presented specific challenges. When COVID-19 vaccines were initially developed and hit the market, wealthy countries bought most of the supplies. That…, Challenges ahead , As Bangladesh continues its push to vaccinate millions more people, the country still faces challenges.   There are still many difficult-to-reach populations, including some older, more vulnerable people. Recent data has shown that about 60 per cent of those aged 60 and over have yet to be vaccinated in Bangladesh, with some citing a lack of…

27 May 2022 Extraordinary advances have been made in the effort to eradicate wild polio in just a generation. The number of children paralyzed by the virus has decreased by 99 per cent since 1988.   There is no cure for polio. It can only be prevented. That prevention comes from a vaccine, which can protect a child for life. And still to this day…, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the last countries where polio remains endemic. Beginning with Pakistan, where do things stand in terms of the effort to eradicate wild polio there?   , Pakistan saw a landmark achievement earlier this year. In January, the country went an entire year without detection of a single case of wild polio. It was a significant milestone in the nation’s effort to eradicate the disease.  But the fight is certainly not over. In April and May, there were four confirmed cases of wild polio, in what’s a…, In Afghanistan, the country’s health systems have been on the brink of collapse. What does that mean when it comes to protecting children from polio?  , Over the past year, the situation for children in Afghanistan has become even more desperate. Conflict, drought and the pandemic have collided to create an unprecedented humanitarian emergency. The country’s health systems are collapsing under that strain. That’s putting millions of children at high risk of polio and other potentially deadly…, Africa was declared free of wild polio in 2020 after Nigeria achieved zero wild polio cases. But some cases of wild polio are now emerging on the continent again. What’s happening?  , Late last year, a case of wild polio was detected in a girl in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe. The virus has affected the nerve cells in her spinal cord, and consequently her ability to walk. It’s the first case of wild polio in Africa in five years, and the first case of wild polio in Malawi in more than three decades.   Months later, in May, a case…, Wild polio isn’t the only concern. There’s a variant, which has been driving cases globally. What is this variant and how concerning is it?   , That’s right, there has been a rise in polio variants. It’s important to note that the world has been gaining a lot of ground in the effort to eradicate the wild polio virus. But at the same time, we’re seeing a rise in what’s called circulating vaccine derived polio outbreaks. These are non-wild variants of the polio virus. In the past three…, It seems like we’re in a precarious position and at a pivotal moment. Advances continue to be made to eradicate polio, but clearly there are still real concerns. What’s UNICEF doing to respond?  , The vast majority of countries in the world are free of polio. But as long as the polio virus exists, anywhere, no child in the world is safe from this debilitating disease. The virus knows no borders. And the recent emergence of polio outbreaks proves that. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative predicts that if polio isn’t eradicated imminently…

GENEVA/NEW YORK, 10 May 2022 – "This week, world leaders will gather to consider crucial next steps in the global COVID-19 response. We applaud the co-hosts of the Second Global COVID-19 Summit – the United States, Belize, Germany, Indonesia and Senegal – for bringing together governments from across the globe to make concrete commitments to…

04 May 2022 The number of reported worldwide measles cases has increased by 79 per cent in the first two months of 2022 compared to the same time last year. It’s a worrying sign of an increased risk for the spread of the highly contagious virus and other vaccine-preventable diseases. And there are fears this reported increase is the beginning of…

NEW YORK/ GENEVA, 27 April 2022 – An increase in measles cases in January and February 2022 is a worrying sign of a heightened risk for the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases and could trigger larger outbreaks, particularly of measles affecting millions of children in 2022, warn WHO and UNICEF. Pandemic-related disruptions, increasing…

In Zulu, the phrase “Zwakala” means “come on over.” It’s often used among friends as an invitation. And in South Africa, “Zwakala” is now the theme of an innovative immunization campaign.    The campaign not only provides people with their COVID-19 shots, but also essential vaccinations for young children against diseases like polio, measles,…

PANAMÁ CITY, 25 April 2022 – In five years, the complete vaccination schedule for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP3) in Latin America and the Caribbean has dropped from 90 percent in 2015 to 76 percent in 2020, according to data from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and UNICEF . This means that one in four children in the region…

NEW YORK, 24 April 2022 – UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Liam Neeson is leading UNICEF’s global immunization initiative with a global message thanking the scientists, parents, health workers and others who have been so critical in helping to immunize children over the last two decades.   In a video released ahead of World Immunization Week , Neeson…

When UNICEF helped launch the largest vaccine operation effort in history, the focus was to make sure that every community was protected from COVID-19. And since the COVAX initiative began in February 2021, more than 1.4 billion doses have reached more than 140 countries.   In some cases, a vaccine represents an opportunity to see and hug a…, Thanks to more vaccines and the efforts of volunteers, Bangladesh's vaccination rate has risen sharply , When the first COVID-19 vaccines supplied by COVAX touched down in Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, in June 2021, less than four per cent of all adults were fully vaccinated. Fast forward less than a year and that number has risen dramatically. By the beginning of April, 67 per cent of the population had received two doses.   COVAX has played a…, Grandparents in Peru are able to see and hug their grandchildren thanks to the COVID-19 vaccines  , Artemio Baldoceda is a grandfather and he speaks for so many when he describes what it means to him to get the COVID-19 vaccine.  “Joy in my heart because I’m getting a little more life to have my family, and for my family to have me. You miss the grandchildren, especially. One waits for that moment to come when you can bear hug them.”  Artemio…, Viet Nam’s vaccination rate has soared in just half a year, meaning that almost every adult is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 , There’s been a rapid rise in the COVID-19 vaccination rate in Viet Nam over the past few months. In September 2021, less than 10 per cent of all adults in the country had received both doses. But by April 2022, more than 78 per cent of those aged over 12-years had been given two shots.  UNICEF has been working with Viet Nam’s government to provide…, Making sure that remote and disaster-prone communities in the Philippines have access to COVID-19 vaccines  , In the Philippines, the COVID-19 vaccination rate has risen significantly recently. Back in September 2021, less than 18 per cent of the population had been fully vaccinated. Half a year later, by April 2022, that vaccination rate now stands at more than 59 per cent. About one in three of all the COVID-19 vaccines that have been given to people in…, COVAX moving forward, As the number of COVID-19 vaccines on the market has increased, there are today enough doses to meet the needs of low- and middle-income countries. So, the focus now is less about resolving supply constraints. Instead, the priority moving forward is to make sure that vaccines are turned into vaccinations. That means supporting countries with…

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.

Man poses in front of blue screen. © UNICEF/UN0629989/McIlwaine Ephrem T. Lemango, Associate Director, Immunization Full credit must be given. Dr. Ephrem T. Lemango took up his position as the Associate Director of Immunization at UNICEF HQ in June 2021. He oversees the immunization and vaccines related work of UNICEF spanning across seven regions…, Resources for the press, Media contacts See UNICEF's range media contacts, available as communications resources for press colleagues. Press centre Browse our extensive resources for journalists and media, showcasing UNICEF's efforts around the world. Experts Talk to our leading experts, available for commentary on child health, nutrition, protection, water, sanitation,…, More UNICEF to explore

For some it's a sense of duty. For others it's an obligation. And then there are those for which it’s a necessity.   Two years ago the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. Nobody knew exactly what lay ahead. But over the course of the following 24 months, extraordinary women and men have risen to the…, A Ugandan healthcare worker uses a megaphone to encourage her community to get vaccinated , When Judith Candiru was growing up, she always admired the white outfits nurses wore. For her, it was emblematic of the care they provided. Now she’s one of them. She takes pride in putting on that sharp uniform, complete with a yellow belt.   Judith Candiru, an Assistant Nursing Officer in the Yumbe District of Uganda, provides COVID-19…, Climbing mountains and crossing canyons in Nepal with vaccines on her back , Birma Kunwar has been weaving her way up mountains and across suspended footbridges for years now. With a box of vaccines perched on her back , she ascends hilly pathways in the remote part of Nepal’s far west.   Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Kunwar would collect lifesaving vaccines in the town of Khalanga, which is the district headquarters…, The teenage innovator whose invention is making handwashing safer , Emmanuel Cosmos Msoka is an innovator and an activist. It’s no coincidence that the 18-year-old from Tanzania invented a crucial hygiene tool during the pandemic that has a water theme to it.  “I was born at the foot of Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro," he says. The only place in my country where water turns to snow and ice.”  18-year-old…, Caring for her siblings while studying in times of loss  , Keysha is 14 years old. But her wisdom and thoughtfulness go beyond her years, as she’s had to grow up fast. Her mother, who worked at a restaurant, lost her life to COVID-19.  “Our mother worked 12-hour days when the restaurant opened for business again,” Keysha says. “Her immune system was weak, that’s probably why she got COVID.”  14-year-old…