PATH TO PROGRESS

Disruptions to routine immunisation services are putting children’s futures at risk. However, the response to COVID-19 offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to increase access to childhood vaccination and overcome barriers that prevented access to basic vaccines even before the pandemic.

Immunisation remains one of the most successful global public health interventions, saving up to three million lives each year. Immunisation also acts as a crucial entry point for communities in low-income countries to access the health system and access other essential primary health care services. The COVID-19 pandemic has showcased the importance of vaccination as a global public health tool, but also highlighted the disparities in access and the need to urgently strengthen immunisation services in countries around the world.

Strengthening health and immunisation systems, protecting and increasing financial resources for routine immunisation, working with global health partners towards innovative solutions to immunisation challenges and demonstrating continued political leadership within platforms such as the G7 and G20 are some of the ways in which the UK Government is uniquely placed to increase access to vaccines for every child.

This new Path to Progress report from the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) outlines the measures needed to transform and strengthen immunisation services, ensure the COVID-19 response marks a catalytic moment for accelerating progress on the Immunisation Agenda 2030 and protect children’s futures.