• When is it celebrated?

  • Last week of April, annually

  • Celebrated across various African countries

• Who initiated it?

  • An initiative of the World Health Organization (WHO)

• Purpose of AVW:

  • To strengthen immunization efforts across Africa

  • To raise awareness about the importance of vaccines

  • To protect people from vaccine-preventable diseases

• Diseases vaccines protect against include:

  • Cholera

  • COVID-19

  • Diphtheria

  • Hepatitis B

  • Influenza

  • Measles

  • Meningitis

  • Mumps

  • Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

  • Pneumonia

  • Polio

2025 Theme: “Immunization for All is Humanly Possible”

• Message behind the theme:

  • Vaccines save lives and protect future generations

  • They are one of humanity’s greatest achievements

• Impact of vaccines since 1974:

  • Saved 154 million lives

  • That’s over 3 million lives a year, or 6 people every minute for 50 years

  • Reduced infant deaths by 40%

How Vaccines Work

• Vaccines train the immune system to create antibodies

• They use killed or weakened forms of viruses/bacteria

• Do not cause the disease or its complications

• Help the body develop natural protection without getting sick

Looking Ahead: Immunization Agenda 2030

• 2025 marks the midpoint of this global immunization strategy

• Focus on:

  • Current achievements of immunization

  • Future goals: expanding coverage, developing new vaccines

  • Reaching more children and covering more diseases and age groups

Goals of World Immunization Week

• Show that it is humanly possible to reduce disease and save lives

• Encourage people to protect themselves and their loved ones through vaccines

• Motivate governments to:

  • Strengthen immunization programmes

  • Turn vaccines into vaccinations

  • Fulfill the promise of immunization for all

Final Message:

• Vaccines = Less Disease, More Life

• Let’s show the world that “Immunization for All is Humanly Possible”

Sources:

• World Health Organization (WHO)

• South African Government website