Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives globally over the past 50 years, protecting people from diseases such as measles, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, and rotavirus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) during World Immunization Week, observed from 24 to 30 April.
The WHO, along with UNICEF and the Vaccine Alliance (GAVI), reported that the Big Catch-Up campaign has reached approximately 18.3 million children aged one to five in 36 countries since its 2023 launch. The initiative also provided 23 million doses of inactivated polio vaccine to unvaccinated or undervaccinated children as part of polio eradication efforts. The campaign is on track to meet its goal of vaccinating at least 21 million children.
WHO stressed the importance of vaccines for all ages, highlighting breakthroughs that have enabled effective vaccines against diseases like malaria, HPV, cholera, dengue, meningitis, RSV, Ebola, and mpox. Despite recent advances and millions of deaths averted, many global immunization targets remain unmet due to challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical instability, climate disruption, and limited funding.
The UN health agency is urging renewed commitment to strengthen national immunization programs, better integrate vaccination with primary healthcare, and prioritize immunization among global health partners. It also notes ongoing challenges with routine vaccine coverage, equity, and outbreak prevention in several countries.
Before introduction, vaccines undergo rigorous laboratory research and clinical trials overseen by national regulatory authorities to ensure safety and efficacy.