From October 24-31, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), together with the countries and territories of the Region of the Americas and its partners, are celebrating the 8 Days of Action for Vaccination Campaign.
The campaign kicks off on October 24, World Polio Day, to remind us that we are very close to eradicating this disease, but due to low vaccination coverage, there is a risk of importation from countries where there have been outbreaks, which puts the health of unvaccinated children under 5 years of age in the Region at serious risk.
Immunization is a success story for global health and development, saving millions of lives every year. Vaccines prevent diseases that, in their absence, could cause serious health problems, permanent disability or even death.
Official data released in July 2022 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)1 reveal the largest sustained decline in childhood immunization in the world in 30 years, putting our health at serious risk, and the consequences of this will be measured in lives.
What can we do? We need millions of children to get the vaccines they are missing, otherwise there will be more outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases - such as measles, rubella, and diphtheria- more sick children, and more pressure on already overburdened health systems.
If vaccination rates continue to fall, we will be left highly vulnerable to the importation and spread of multiple diseases that we had eliminated or greatly reduced through vaccination.
Join our campaign! We invite you to ask your healthcare provider or nearby health center about vaccines you may be missing.
#GetAllYourShots
Moderator:
Tanya McFall
Panelists:
Emilia Cain
PAHO/WHO Regional Advisor on Immunizations
Integrated Family Vaccination Unit (FPL/IM)
Karen Broome-Toppin
PAHO/WHO Regional Advisor on Immunizations
Integrated Family Vaccination Unit (FPL/IM)
