Immunisation
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Immunisation
Protecting future generations from life-threatening diseases – THIS is how we protect our tamariki all around the globe!
UNICEF is the largest buyer of vaccines in the world. We use our enormous scale and expertise to turn vaccines into something life-saving – vaccinations!
We work on a global, country and community level to supply, distribute, and immunise half of the world's kids under five every year.
Without routine immunisations and vaccines, kids would suffer from severe AND preventable diseases.
6.2
million
doses of 1st ever malaria vaccine delivered in 2023 thanks to landmark contract.
2.79
billion
doses of life-saving vaccines were delivered in 2023.
58
billion
lives saved through immunisation. Reaching kids in over 100 countries.
No matter the distance.
No matter the obstacles.
Our strong network of staff and medical experts do whatever it takes to bring life-saving vaccines to kids' communities, schools and doorsteps! Travelling by donkey, camel, car, foot – or boat, like Trésor below – are just a few of ways we deliver vaccines to kids in all corners of the world!
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"I do the vaccination to protect the lives of the children in my community. I want them to grow up healthy, because among them are future leaders, future doctors and future vaccinators."
—Trésor, a nurse at a UNICEF-supported health clinic in UGANDA.
This is what reaching every child takes!
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Drones safely deliver Tuberculosis vaccines to remote islands in Vanuatu.
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Tetanus vaccinations by donkey in Afghanistan.
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Motorbikes do door-to-door immunisations for kids in Madagascar.
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Travelling by canoe in Uganda to villages unreachable by road.
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Riding camel-back through deserts to reach remote villages in India.
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Driving through jungle to deliver polio vaccines in Papua New Guinea.
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Trekking through mountains on foot to bring COVID-19 vaccines to kids in Nepal.UN0265456
Drones safely deliver Tuberculosis vaccines to remote islands in Vanuatu.UNI11649
Tetanus vaccinations by donkey in Afghanistan.
It's all about teamwork! Thanks to support from our global network of partners, supply hubs, logistic teams – and of course, generous donors – our dedicated staff on the ground help save almost 3 million kids each year with vaccines!
Delivering on a global scale
Our expertise in delivering vaccines positioned us to help launch and lead the largest health operation in history. The focus: to protect our global whānau from COVID-19.
By the end of 2022, UNICEF had shipped almost 2 billion COVID-19 vaccines.
The delivery is only part of the puzzle! For such a tall order we strengthened our global cold chain system to make sure every dose was stored safely and at the right temperature on their long journey. This means each one of our life-saving vaccines (not just COVID) will always be effective and ready to go, whenever they’re needed!
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How we strengthened our Cold Chain
To deliver vaccines safely to kids around the world, we've upgraded cargo planes and vans with refrigeration units, installed cold rooms and solar powered refrigerators in regional clinics, and invested in portable solar powered cold boxes so our health workers can travel anywhere with lifesaving vaccines.
Solar cold chain helps us prepare for the uncertainty of the future – especially in areas prone to power outages or outbreak! See first hand the life-changing impact our innovative cold chain systems are having for kids and communities in Guatemala:
Providing vaccines is just one part of our job. For over 77 years we've helped lead routine immunisation drives in over 100 countries to make sure kids grow up happy and healthy. We reach kids even when they're living amid conflict, natural disaster or in the most remote corners of the world.
For every child in crisis
The risk and spread of disease can skyrocket during an emergency. Our job is to make sure nothing interrupts routine immunisations – keeping kids safe!
When a disaster strikes, healthcare systems are often destroyed or overburdened with urgent cases. This disrupts immunisation and vaccine drives, leaving children vulnerable to falling ill.
The continued support of UNICEF donors means during an emergency we're able to immediately dispatch mobile medical vaccination teams on the frontlines. Most importantly, donations help us invest in long-lasting infrastructure and preposition vaccines so routine immunisations never stop!
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Our historic impact with the help of vaccines
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We helped eliminate smallpox for good in 1980 after the disease devastated the world for 3000 years. Now we're on track to do the same with polio!
Polio is a viral disease that can cause nerve paralysis, permanent disability and even death. But did you know it's preventable? There may be no cure but we can work together to ensure every child is protected against this terrible disease thanks to vaccines!
Every year, donors help us vaccinate over 400 million children against polio – here's how!
UNICEF helps to spearhead the Global Polio Eradication Initiative that leads large community vaccination drives in countries around the world to ensure every child in every household is protected against Polio.
A handful of polio outbreaks still persist due to disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation around vaccines, and access to medical centres. But our teams are committed to going that extra mile to educate communities about the harmful disease and vaccinate kids right at their door.
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We'd like to introduce you to the women behind polio eradication!
Need more convincing? Our stats speak for themselves!
Since 1988 we've helped reduce cases in children by 99 per cent.
In 2021 we supported a door-to-door Polio campaign in Pakistan where we vaccinated 40 million children under 5 in 5 days!
We also have big plans in the pipeline! By 2030 we're hoping to fully eradicate polio with the help of vaccines.
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Our immunisation progress around the globe!
Life-saving vaccines for the Pacific
UNICEF has partnered with Rotary on the ‘Give Every Child a Future’ programme. This means 300,000 vaccine doses will be delivered to children on more than 330 islands over the next three years!
Two drops is all it takes to protect a child from polio
With only one case of poliovirus reported in 2021, Afghanistan has an extraordinary opportunity to eradicate polio. The recent vaccination campaign is crucial for preventing resurgence of polio within the country.
A history of hope
Over the last 200 years, vaccines have built up a pretty astounding resume. In that short amount of time, they’ve helped us ward off some of the world’s most devastating diseases.