Global Immunization insights_Jan/Feb2025
Global Immunization Newsletter - January/February 2025
Message by the Director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, WHO
Safeguarding children and adolescents from deadly, yet preventable diseases, such as polio, measles, diphtheria, pertussis, human papillomavirus and tetanus, among others, is the foundation of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) – saving an estimated 154 million lives and adding over 10 billion years of healthy life. Through strong partnerships and countries’ commitments vaccines have reached every corner of the world and became the single greatest contribution of any health intervention to ensuring babies not only see their first birthdays but continue leading healthy lives into adulthood.
Upcoming meetings
- Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, 10-13 March 2025
- Sixth Global Vaccine and Immunization Research Forum, 25 – 27 March 2025
Stories
The Big Catch-Up advances in Eastern Mediterranean
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen have updated their Expanded Program on Immunization policies to include children under five years.
Nepal's path to maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination
Nepal has upheld its MNT elimination since 2005, with a 2024 assessment confirming nationwide rates remain below one case per 1,000 live births.
Protecting against polio in Madagascar
Between 2020 to 2023, 55 children in the country were paralyzed by the virus. but no cases have occurred since September 2023 due to effective responses.
PCV20 vaccine production boosts in Latin America
PAHO, Argentina, Pfizer, and Sinergium Biotech partner to produce and expand access to the 20-valent pneumococcal vaccine.
Chad introduces three powerful vaccines
Chad has introduced three vaccines against malaria, pneumococcal infections, and rotavirus nationwide, targeting nearly one million children under the age of one.
WHO aids Sudan virus outbreak response in Uganda
WHO deploys experts, mobilizes staff, and allocates $1M for Sudan virus response in Uganda, with medical supplies en route from Nairobi.
WHO boosts Tanzania's Marburg response
A team of experts from WHO has deployed to Tanzania’s north-western Kagera region to support the health authorities strengthen response to an outbreak of Marburg virus disease.
New resources
Past meetings
National Immunization Strategy (NIS) development hands-on workshop for selected countries, Oman
- Regional Validation Committee for Hepatitis B control/elimination and EMTCT (HIV, HBV, Syphilis), Cairo
Rota and IBD Sentinel Surveillance Review Meeting Conducted in Nepal
State workshop to strengthen routine immunization in Telangana, India
- Timor-Leste Conducts Comprehensive Immunization and Vaccine Surveillance Review
Announcements
1 dollar 1 world
Let’s raise $1 billion to support the World Health Organization’s critical mission of protecting global health, particularly in times of uncertainty and reduced funding.
Contributions
Contribute to the next issue of the GIN
The next update will be in January 2025. To contribute, please click on this
link to submit an article by March 7th.
If you have any questions or feedback, please contact: globalimmunnews@who.int
