Putting routine immunisation back in the spotlight

Editorial Team

Editorial Team

April 25th, 2022

Editorial Team
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‘This is the third Immunisation Week since the COVID-19 pandemic began. It’s time to get vaccination programmes back on track to ensure a #LongLifeForAll’

The World Health Organisation (WHO) European Immunisation Week 2022 and World Immunisation Week are under way, as health systems begin to refocus on normal services.

Globally, almost 12 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in just 18 months ‒ with growing volumes of vaccine now available to low-income countries. However, the disruption to health services caused by the pandemic led millions to miss out on their vaccines against other diseases. The WHO and UNICEF are warning of a ‘lost decade’ as more than 30 million children around the world missed their basic vaccines in 2020. 

COVID-19 has not gone away and will continue to put pressure on hospital services, especially among those who are not vaccinated. But while COVID-19 vaccines are still available, health authorities are also working to catch up on missed vaccines against HPV, measles, pertussis and others.

The theme of this year’s Immunisation Week is Long Life For All. This reflects the trend towards life-course immunisation in which people at all ages and stages of life can benefit from vaccines.

This will be reflected in our coverage this week on this website, on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn. We’ll bring you exclusive interviews with WHO Europe, the ECDC and GAVI, covering a wide range of immunisation issues from COVID-19 and flu, to life-course immunisations and the implications of the crisis in Ukraine on vaccination.

Follow us and check in each day to see our new content.

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