WHO Launches 'The Big Catch-Up' Vaccination Campaign to Save Young Lives

The World Health Organization launches 'The Big Catch-Up' campaign to raise childhood vaccination rates in over 100 countries hit by pandemic-related disruptions.

Highlights:

The WHO unveiled "The Big Catch-Up" campaign to increase childhood vaccination rates to pre-pandemic levels and prevent outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles, diphtheria, polio, and yellow fever
Childhood vaccination rates fell in over 100 countries since the pandemic due to closed clinics, disrupted imports and exports of medical equipment, and overworked healthcare systems
The campaign will focus on the 20 countries where three-quarters of children missed immunizations in 2021, and WHO is collaborating with partners such as UNICEF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on the project

The World Health Organization (WHO) unveiled a fresh COVID-19 vaccination campaign for millions of youngsters. "The Big Catch-Up" tries to make up for missed immunization progress during the COVID-19 epidemic.

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‘WHO launches 'The Big Catch-Up' campaign to boost immunization rates among children worldwide, aiming to make up for progress lost during the pandemic. Partnering with UNICEF, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to reach 20 countries with the lowest immunization rates. #VaccinesWork #TheBigCatchUp’

Global Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Childhood Immunizations

"During the pandemic, essential immunization levels fell in over 100 countries, resulting in rising outbreaks of measles, diphtheria, polio, and yellow fever," according to the WHO. "The Big Catch-up" is a long-term campaign to raise immunization rates among youngsters to pre-pandemic levels, if not higher.

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Collaborative Efforts of WHO and its Partners to Improve Childhood Vaccination Rates

WHO is collaborating with partners such as the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Vaccine Alliance, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on the project. Childhood vaccination rates have fallen in more than 100 nations since the pandemic, owing to overworked healthcare systems, closed clinics, and disrupted imports and exports of vials, syringes, and other medical equipment.

With almost 25 million children missing at least one vaccination alone in 2021, outbreaks of preventable diseases including measles, diphtheria, polio, and yellow fever have increased. "Millions of children and adolescents, particularly in low-income countries, have missed out on life-saving vaccinations, while outbreaks of these deadly diseases have increased," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

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Focusing on the 20 Countries with Low Immunization Rates

WHO is currently assisting dozens of nations in restoring immunization and other critical health services. The Big Catch-up will concentrate on the 20 countries where three-quarters of youngsters failed to receive immunizations in 2021.

Source-Medindia

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