Every year in the last week of April, the world marks World Immunization Week (WIW). 

Vaccines save and improve lives. Vaccines prevented at least 10 million deaths between 2010 and 2015, and protected millions more from illness. The global fight to end polio has reached its final stages, with just 3 remaining countries—Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan—still working to eradicate the debilitating disease.

Yet too many people still don’t have access to vaccines — globally, 1 in 7 children still misses out on even the most basic immunizations.

With measles outbreaks across Europe and rising vaccine hesitancy globally, the need to raise awareness of the importance of immunization among policymakers and the general public alike has never been greater.

Against this backdrop, GHS was the driving force behind a group of partners that designed and executed the first global WIW strategy, created and implemented the first permanent online repository for social media content related to immunization, helped conceptualize and design compelling creative items, and placed content in media outlets on every day of the week.

Activities around WIW aim to reach parents, caregivers, health workers, mass media and decision makers in order to increase awareness of the importance and value of immunization and ultimately reach vulnerable populations with lifesaving immunizations.