Happy World Immunization Week! Cancer Sherpa supports the World Health Organization (WHO) in its annual week-long campaign to emphasize the necessity of international collective action and cooperation in promoting vaccination against all preventable diseases in global citizens of every age. The theme for this year’s event is “Long Life for All,” which is a call to action for every nation to prioritize getting local, state, and national immunization programs back on track as worldwide immunization rates have fallen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Globally, child, adolescent, and adult vaccination programs experienced significant disruptions due to physical distancing, reduction or loss of transportation, patient, caregiver, and health worker exposure concerns, and supply chain interruptions. If given the access and education, today’s global citizens can choose to be immunized against twenty-five preventable diseases over the course of their lifespan. The WHO, and their partners worldwide, recommend the following to address the immunity gaps created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Catch-up vaccination campaigns
- Mass vaccination events/activities
- Targeted communication to persons and communities identified as having missed vaccines or doses
- Local, state, and national governments may need to amend, modify, or improve:
- Immunization policies
- Defaulter tracking
- Train more healthcare workers to implement and staff catch-up vaccination programs
- Screen for vaccination status at health service encounters and schools
- Expand age-based immunization eligibility for unvaccinated children and adolescents
- Remind the adult population to get pneumonia and other age-based eligible vaccines as masks come off and exposure increases
Below you will find links to the WHO and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s World Immunization Week websites and vaccination schedules for children, adolescents and adults. Please contact Cancer Sherpa if you or someone you care for needs assistance in getting up to date on their vaccinations. From education to transportation, we are happy to help.
Resources:
WHO World Immunization Week 2022
CDC World Immunization Week 2022