Global Immunization Newsletter - November/December 2025

End-of-the-year message by the Director of the Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals Department at WHO

As 2025 draws to a close, we look back on a year defined by scientific progress, strong commitment, and collective determination in the face of global uncertainty. Immunization remains one of the most effective public-health interventions we have, preventing disease and protecting millions of people from serious disease and death, every year, and 2025 is no different.
This past year reminded us not only of what vaccines can achieve, but of how essential our shared efforts are to ensuring those benefits reach every child, every adolescent, every adult, everywhere.

Upcoming meetings

WHO Executive Board Meeting - 2/7 February 2026, Geneva, Switzerland.
Global Pediatric Diarrhea Surveillance Meeting - 18/20 February 2026, Jaipur, India.
WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization - 9/12 March 2026, Geneva, Switzerland.
14th International Conference on Typhoid & Other Invasive Salmonelloses - 24/26 March 2026, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Stories

Measles deaths down 88% since 2000, but cases surge

Despite fewer deaths, measles cases are surging worldwide, with an estimated 11 million infections in 2024 – nearly 800 000 more than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Indonesia announces closure of polio outbreak

Since June 2024, no poliovirus has been detected in children or the environment. Based on this progress, WHO declared the outbreak closure on 19 November 2025.

New tools saved a million lives from malaria last year but progress under threat as drug resistance rises

A million malaria deaths averted, but resistance rises

Wider use of new tools against malaria helped to prevent an estimated 170 million cases and 1 million deaths in 2024 - WHO's annual World malaria report.

Saving vaccines closer to communities in Samoa

After over 40 minutes of road travel along the northwest coastline, health workers prepared for their mission that day: a health outreach activity in the village.

Immunization: progress and challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Immunization status in the Eastern Mediterranean

The first annual IA2030 report for the Eastern Mediterranean shows progress, but key challenges remain in vaccine equity and disease prevention.

New resources

Past meetings

Webinar: Catch-Up Vaccination: Insights from 5 Big Catch-up Country Case Studies - 01/12/2025
WCO Nepal facilitated orientation of newly formed VPD expert committees - 03-04/11/2025, Nepal
Cross-Border meeting between WHO SMO Nepal and India held in Biratnagar - 17-18/11/2025, Nepal
Side Event at the 78th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia – “Enhancing Programmatic and Financial Sustainability of Immunization Programmes in the South-East Asia Region” -13/10/2025, Sri Lanka

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