Vaccines are lifesavers, WHO insists as world immunisation week begins

The World Health Organisation says that over the past 50 years, vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives, as ordinary people chose to protect themselves, their children and their communities from diseases such as measles, diphtheria, pertussis, polio and rotavirus.

WHO gave the assurance in a statement on Friday as World Immunisation Week begins, running from April 24 to April 30.

During World Immunisation Week, WHO and its partners are highlighting the benefits of vaccines at every stage of life, as well as the scientific breakthroughs that have led to tried and tested inoculations against malaria, HPV, cholera, dengue, meningitis, RSV, Ebola and mpox.

This year marks the midpoint of Immunisation Agenda 2030, a global push led by WHO to ensure that everyone can benefit from life-saving vaccines.

A report released to assess progress so far found that, despite unprecedented challenges—including the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical instability, climate disruption and limited financing—immunisation efforts over the past five years have averted millions of deaths.

However, most targets remain off track, with persistent gaps in routine coverage, equity and outbreak prevention across many countries.

The UN health agency is calling for renewed commitments to build more sustainable national programmes, stronger integration with primary healthcare, and greater prioritisation by global health agencies and partners.

On Friday, WHO, along with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), announced that “The Big Catch-up”, a historic international effort to address vaccination declines largely driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, has reached an estimated 18.3 million children aged one to five across 36 countries since its launch in 2023.

The campaign also provided 23 million doses of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) to unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children, an essential intervention toward polio eradication. The initiative is forecast to meet its target of vaccinating at least 21 million children.

In October 2024, WHO’s Country Representative to Nigeria, Dr Walter Mulombo, affirmed that vaccines are safe and effective.

Mulombo said before the WHO approves a vaccine, it reviews its efficacy through a rigorous process.

(NAN)