Despite being exposed to thousands of pathogens daily, children naturally resist them. Life-saving immunizations are the only defence against several lethal diseases, such as measles, polio, tetanus, tuberculosis, diphtheria, and whooping cough.
Up to three million children are saved by vaccines every year, and some illnesses, like the wild poliovirus, have seen a case reduction of almost 95% since 1988, putting them on the verge of eradication. We have been supporting the global campaign to immunize everyone against COVID-19; we still remember routine vaccinations, as the lack of these shots puts millions of children in danger.
Because every kid deserves the same protection against preventable diseases, we are working to immunize children here in the Asia Pacific and around the world with the help of our international partners.
Papua New Guinea has the lowest immunization coverage rates in the world, with only 47% of infants under one having gotten all of their recommended immunization doses. Through acquiring vaccines, educating healthcare professionals, enhancing vaccine storage and transportation systems, and fostering community trust, we aim to increase immunization coverage in PNG and worldwide.
Women and children are more likely to be denied access to life-saving vaccines when they live in remote locations, are poor, have a handicap, or are in an emergency, putting them at higher risk for illness.
Global supply chains, logistics, and health systems have all been severely impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic. It also produced the ideal conditions for the outbreak of other diseases. Our efforts to immunize youngsters are even more crucial given the strain on the health systems.
Locally, UNICEF Australia is dedicated to assisting vital, underfunded initiatives in Australia and our neighbouring nations, including Cambodia, Laos, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Burundi, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and the Pacific Islands. This work is made possible thanks to kind donors like you and the Australian Government’s Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
