Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)’s Post

One of Somalia's major achievements in 2024. --- The Somalia government, in collaboration with WHO Somalia and other health partners, successfully implemented the Big Catch-up initiative in 2024 to enhance routine immunization for children and improve their health and well-being across the country. The intervention targets children under five years who have not completed their vaccination schedules and have never received vaccines—known as zero-dose children—estimated at 1.5 children in Somalia. The Big Catch Up also intends to reach populations with COVID-19 and tetanus vaccinations for adults. The video below highlights the launch of the Big Catch-up initiative and its progress to date.

Did you know that according to the World Health Statistics 2024 report by WHO, despite immunization coverage improving, a shocking 14.3 million children worldwide missed out on vaccinations in 2022? These vulnerable "zero-dose children" are at high risk of preventable diseases like measles, diphtheria, and more. This not only strains healthcare systems but also has significant economic impacts on families and communities. We have been taking action to address this by: 📚 Educating and Engaging Communities: Providing clear, accurate information to combat vaccine hesitancy. 🚑 Deploying a Mobile Information Van: Reaching communities in hard-to-reach areas with easy-to-understand messages using visual aids and local practices. 🤝 Partnering with Local Leaders: Working together to create trust and increase vaccine uptake. Source: https://lnkd.in/gX9qZZQJ

Joint press release from WHO and UNICEF: measles cases across Europe continue to surge, putting millions of children at risk Nearly half of reported cases in 2023 occurred among children under 5 years of age, reflecting an accumulation of children who missed routine vaccinations against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with slow recovery in vaccination coverage in 2021 and 2022. "An increase in measles cases is a clear sign of a breakdown in immunization coverage. As cases of measles continue to surge, we need urgent government action to both strengthen health systems and implement effective public health measures to secure protection for all children from this dangerous but preventable disease," said Regina De Dominicis, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. Among children under 5 years of age who contracted measles in 2023, more than three quarters had not received any measles vaccination doses. https://lnkd.in/egSaRUdW #PublicHealth #Europe #StayInformed #StayEmpowered

to keep life-saving medicines working Suboptimal access to vaccinations and missed vaccine doses reduce the potential impact of vaccination in controlling AMR. WHO encourages policy-makers to align vaccination and AMR control strategies and is supporting Member States to achieve this. "It's great to hear that parents like Elena are motivated to keep antimicrobials working and to choose vaccination to help prevent infectious diseases," says Dr Siddartha Datta, Regional Adviser for Vaccine-Preventable diseases and Immunization at WHO/Europe. "Our individual actions matter. The value of vaccinating an individual and its impact on AMR are often under-recognized. But times are changing. AMR is now a major global health threat to this and future generations. Getting all scheduled vaccinations on time helps prevent the spread of diseases. This, and taking medicines as prescribed, helps reduce the risk of AMR.". https://lnkd.in/duAPXs6H #PublicHealth #Europe #StayInformed #StayEmpowered

A recent study by One Health Trust researchers and colleagues, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, shows how routine childhood vaccinations against 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘱𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘦 and 𝘏𝘢𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘻𝘢𝘦 type B in India are making a difference! Since these vaccines were introduced into India’s national immunization program in the mid-2010s, antibiotic use has significantly decreased. They found that increases in childhood vaccination coverage between 2004 and 2016 likely reduced attributable antibiotic demand by as much as 93.4 percent among the poorest quintile in India. If vaccination rates continue to rise we could see even more reductions in antibiotic consumption by 2028 and greater health equity! Read the study published in The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia here: https://lnkd.in/dSCawhvY #ChildhoodVaccination #Immunization #AMR Amit Summan Arindam Nandi Chirag Kumar Ramanan Laxminarayan Eili Klein

It's August. Are you up to date with your vaccinations? 🇺🇸 In the USA, August represents National Immunization Awareness Month (#NIAM), bringing attention to the importance of regular vaccinations for both children and adults. It's a hugely important issue. During the pandemic, millions of children around the world missed routine vaccines, and further health seeking behaviours amongst the most vulnerable reduced due to misinformation and lack of health support available. 🇳🇬 In Nigeria, HelpMum Africa's chatbot are working raise awareness around immunisation all year round, providing mothers with critical information around vaccines and immunisations for their children. The team are collaborating with FCDO Pioneer Pippa Ranger and the The Behavioural Insights Team on an FT pilot, introducing AI to enable better service and behavioural science to nurture health-seeking behaviours, building on the incredible learnings from the Better Futures CoLab: Vaccine Data CoLab. The big question: Can a chatbot improve the effectiveness and efficiency of vaccine uptake? 💉 👉 Read Pippa's story: From pandemic networks to vaccine chatbots: https://lnkd.in/enqsRevf #immunisation #vaccinedata #behaviouralscience #health #tech #healthtech #nigeria Results for Development DT Global Brink Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office - Research, Science and Innovation UK in Nigeria

Another great GlobalWA member guest blog about #vaccination (see our last Li post). VillageReach, in collaboration with the #Malawi Ministry of Health, is using drama and theater to boost vaccination rates: Lights, Camera, Vaccinate! How Malawi Uses Drama to Boost Immunization Rates INTRO: Imagine a child’s missed vaccination sparking a dramatic scene, not of anger, but of awareness. In Malawi, this is a powerful new approach to public health. Through theatrical performances on local stages, communities are learning about the importance of vaccinations in a way that’s both entertaining and effective. The "Let’s Talk About Vaccines!" project, a collaboration between VillageReach and the Malawi Ministry of Health, aims to achieve three main objectives: increased knowledge about immunization, higher vaccination rates and greater participation of men and all family members in the process. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gjWGAPFV #vaccineswork #vaccinemisinformation #globalhealth #burdenofdisease #GlobalWAmember #sdg3

Today is the last day of the World Immunization Week. While Nigeria has made some improvements in routine childhood immunizations, here are some facts about immunization in Nigeria from reputable sources quoted on Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance website. 📍 There are about 2.3 Million "Zero-dose" children (never immunized children) in 2022 📍Only a 10% reduction in zero-dose children from 2019–2022 10% 📍About 6 out 10 children received 3 doses of the DTP (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis) vaccine in 2022 It has been hard work as Nigeria has made some progress. However, it is somewhat "slow" progress. Misinformation, ignorance, and a depleting health workforce make matters worse. It's great to see those at the frontline of promoting vaccine equity in Nigeria. I celebrate our workers and volunteers from SRHIN who are part of those doing this hard work. I would appreciate your ideas about how to promote vaccinations in Nigeria #Vaccines #VaccineEquity #HeathEquity

As medical innovation continues to extend the average lifespan of people, the focus is now shifting towards building their "healthspan".   Adult immunization can enhance healthspan, as it provides individuals with immunity to lead not just longer but healthier lives. Yet, due to the lack of awareness and proactiveness, we see about 100M missed doses of vaccinations in India*, a concerning number.   At Bridge Health, we're committed to addressing this issue head-on by raising awareness and educating adults about the importance of vaccinations in extending their "healthspan."   From protecting against shingles to influenza to zoster, these vaccines have proven to be instrumental in safeguarding countless lives and preventing potentially debilitating illnesses.   Our work doesn't end here. We're dedicated to #BridgeTheGap which persists in India through advocacy, education, and vaccination initiatives across the nation.   We invite you to join us in this mission. Together, let's ensure that every individual has access to the protection they need for a brighter, healthier future.    *Source: As per a report shared by GSK, in collaboration with the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science and the Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA) #WorldImmunizationWeek2024 #AdultImmunization #AdultVaccines #PreventiveHealth #PublicHealth #HealthyAgeing

CHILDHOOD VACCINATIONS: YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED👌 According to UNICEF and WHO, 60% of the unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children live in just 10 countries: India, Nigeria, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Philippines, Democratic Republic of Congo, Brazil, Pakistan, Angola and Myanmar. As a parent, you may be familiar with the ‘childhood vaccination schedule’ – a detailed plan for when children should get certain immunizations that help protect them from preventable diseases, but as the list of recommended vaccines has grown over the years, so also the list of questions parents do have about vaccinations and its schedules. This new post seeks to answer some of the pertinent questions you might have about childhood vaccinations as a parent...👇🏼 https://lnkd.in/eTp5GekD Let's protect our children from getting preventable diseases!!! #childhoodvaccination #immunization #healthychildren #mypaediatricdoctor