The World Health Organization, UNICEF, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have announced a partnership that is calling for a targeted global effort to boost vaccination among children following declines driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Big Catch-up campaign aims to reverse the declines in childhood vaccination recorded in more than 100 countries since the pandemic, due to overburdened health services, closed clinics, and disrupted imports and exports of medical supplies. According to the partners, more than 25 million children were missing at least one vaccination in 2021 alone. The Big Catch-up will focus on the 20 countries where three-quarters of the children who missed vaccinations in 2021 live.

To ensure progress on childhood immunization, partners are working with countries to strengthen healthcare workforces, improve health service delivery, build trust and demand for vaccines within communities, and address gaps and obstacles to restoring immunization. In addition to catching up on childhood immunization, the partners will intensify efforts to introduce the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to adolescents to prevent cervical cancer, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where the burden is highest.

“Routine vaccines are typically a child’s first entry into their health system and so children who miss out on their early vaccines are at added risk of being cut out of health care in the long run,” said UNICEF executive director Catherine Russell. “The longer we wait to reach and vaccinate these children, the more vulnerable they become and the greater the risk of more deadly disease outbreaks. Countries, global partners, and local communities must come together to strengthen services, build trust, and save lives.” 

“The incredible progress that has been made toward ending polio and reducing the incidence of infectious diseases is the direct result of thousands of dedicated global partners and local health workers who have worked to immunize millions of children,” said Gates Foundation president of global development Chris Elias. “We must double down to reach all children with the vaccines they need to live healthier lives and ensure that future generations live free of preventable diseases like polio.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Fat Camera)