World Immunization Week 2025: Promoting Universal Vaccine Access
Aspect | Details |
---|---|
Event | World Immunization Week 2025 |
Dates | April 24 to 30, 2025 |
Theme | "Immunization for All is Humanly Possible" |
Organizer | World Health Organization (WHO) |
Objective | Promote universal access to vaccines and raise awareness about their life-saving benefits. |
Historical Context | Endorsed by the World Health Assembly in May 2012; first observed in 2012. |
Key Achievements | Immunization has saved 154 million lives over 50 years (6 lives every minute). |
Impact of Measles Vaccine | Contributed to 60% of lives saved by vaccination. |
Global Immunization | Efforts eradicated smallpox and nearly eradicated polio; focus on malaria, RSV, and HPV. |
Missed Vaccinations | 22 million children missed first measles vaccine in 2023; 3.5 million girls missed HPV vaccine in 2022. |
Universal Access | Emphasis on vaccinating all age groups, including infants, elderly, pregnant women, and adolescents. |
Challenges | Anti-vaccination movements; resurgence of diseases like measles; misinformation about vaccines. |
Health Benefits | Prevents 35 to 50 million deaths annually; reduced child mortality rates globally. |