Global Immunization insights_May2025
Global Immunization Newsletter - May 2025
Message by the Director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biological at WHO
In a time when vaccine preventable disease outbreaks are surging and the health of millions is in jeopardy, World Immunization Week 2025 served as a powerful reminder of what is “Humanly Possible”. Vaccines stand as proof that less disease, more life is achievable through collaboration. Decades of collective efforts between governments, aid agencies, scientists, healthcare workers, communities and parents got us to where we are today –– a world where vaccines save at least 6 lives every minute and protect people of all ages against more than 30 life-threatening diseases.
Upcoming meetings
78th World Health Assembly (WHA78), 12-27 May 2025, Geneva
WHA78 Official Side Events, 12-27 May 2025, Geneva
Tuberculosis in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations, 22 May, Geneva
The Power of Prevention: Immunizing for a Safer, Healthier World, 23 May, Geneva
- 15th International Rotavirus Symposium, 30 September - 02 October 2025, South Africa
Stories
Mali becomes 20th country to introduce malaria vaccine
To mark 2025 World Malaria Day, Mali has introduced the R21 vaccine into its health system, targeting 600,000 children aged between 5 and 36 months.
The lifelines of the HPV vaccination campaign
Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Nepal. To address this, the Ministry of Health launched a nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign.
Vaccine researcher O’Brien awarded Sabin’s Gold Medal
The Sabin Vaccine Institute awarded the Albert B. Sabin Gold Medal to Katherine O’Brien, MD, MPH for her research on the pneumococcal vaccine and leadership in global vaccine research and access.
Ending polio in the Eastern Mediterranean
Despite progress, over 100 children have been paralyzed by wild poliovirus in Afghanistan and Pakistan last year. Regional leaders urge stronger action to stop transmission.
Libya launches review of its immunization programme
The National Immunization Programme Review will provide evidence to inform the development of the National Immunization Strategy for 2025 and help align Libya’s efforts with global and regional targets.
Vaccination Week in the Americas 2025
Each April, over 40 countries in the Americas join VWA to vaccinate communities, prioritizing those with limited access to health services, such as indigenous peoples, migrants and border populations.
New resources
Past meetings
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 June 16th.
If you have any questions or feedback, please contact: globalimmunnews@who.int
