WHO reports immunizations have prevented over 150 million fatalities worldwide

The World Health Organisation has revealed that vaccines have been responsible for saving over 150 million lives worldwide during the past 50 years, thanks to widespread public adoption of vaccinations against diseases such as measles, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, and rotavirus.

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This milestone was highlighted by the WHO in a statement issued on Friday, coinciding with the start of World Immunisation Week, which runs from 24 to 30 April.

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Throughout World Immunisation Week, the WHO and its partners are showcasing the benefits of vaccines at all life stages, as well as the scientific advancements that have led to the development of effective inoculations against diseases like malaria, HPV, cholera, dengue, meningitis, RSV, Ebola, and mpox.

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This year marks the midpoint of the Immunisation Agenda 2030, a global initiative led by the WHO aimed at ensuring universal access to life-saving vaccines.

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A recent report assessing progress towards this goal found that, despite numerous challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical instability, climate disruption, and limited financing, immunisation efforts over the past five years have prevented millions of deaths.

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However, the report also noted that most targets remain unmet, with persistent gaps in routine coverage, equity, and outbreak prevention across many countries.

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The WHO is calling for renewed commitments to establish more sustainable national immunisation programmes, as well as stronger integration with primary healthcare and increased prioritisation from global health agencies and partners.

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On Friday, the WHO, in collaboration with the UN children's agency and the Vaccine Alliance, announced that The Big Catch-up initiative has reached an estimated 18.3 million children aged one to five across 36 countries since its launch in 2023.

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The campaign has also provided 23 million doses of inactivated polio vaccine to unvaccinated and undervaccinated children, a crucial step towards polio eradication, and is forecasted to meet its target of vaccinating at least 21 million children.