World Immunization Week

World Immunization Week is a health campaign coordinated by the World Health Organisation (WHO)  and celebrated in the last week of April, every year. It aims to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease.

Immunization saves millions of lives and is widely recognized as one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective health interventions. Yet, there are still nearly 20 million unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children in the world today.

World Immunisation week - April 24 - 30, 2022

The theme this year is Long Life for All and it aims to unify people around the idea that vaccines make it possible for us to follow our dreams, protect our loved ones and live a long, healthy life.

Why immunization matters now more than ever

For over 200 years, vaccines have protected us against diseases that threaten lives and prohibit our development. With their help, we can progress without the burden of diseases like smallpox and polio, which cost humanity hundreds of millions of lives.

Whilst vaccines aren't a silver bullet, they will again help us progress on a path to a world where we can be together again.  Vaccines themselves continue to advance, bringing us closer to a world free from the likes of tuberculosis and cervical cancer, and ending suffering from childhood diseases like tetanus and measles.

For more than two centuries, vaccines have helped keep people healthy—from the very first vaccine developed to protect against smallpox to the newest vaccines used to prevent severe cases of COVID-19. Since then, families and communities have entrusted vaccines to protect their loved ones. But the value
of vaccines is measured by more than the number of doses given.

Vaccines provide everyone a chance at a fulfilling life.

Source : World Health Organisation

Related resources

1. Campaign materials