Vaccines work, for every generation
Immunization is one of the most effective ways to protect children from preventable diseases. Vaccines help every generation survive and thrive.
For more than 200 years, vaccines have protected children and families — saving over 150 million lives in the past 50 years alone. That’s six lives every minute, every day, for decades.
Because of vaccines, more children today are surviving and realizing their rights to health and well-being than at any time in history.
But this progress is not guaranteed. Nearly 20 million infants still miss out on at least one vaccine each year, most simply because they lack access.
Vaccines are the safest and most effective ways to protect children from serious disease.
When parents decide to vaccinate, they protect themselves, their children, and their future generations.
Some traditions are worth passing on. Let’s make sure every child benefits from lifesaving vaccines.
What needs to happen
- Ensure that all children have access to vaccines.
Governments need to take action to boost vaccine coverage and ensure that all children have the protection they need to survive and thrive.
- Strengthen immunization systems.
This means training and supporting community health workers, creating stronger supply chains and building more vaccination sites. It also means ensuring every family has access to reliable and accurate information so they can make informed decisions on vaccines.
- Prioritize investments in immunization.
Continued flexible funding from governments, businesses and individuals is critical to realizing improved health outcomes for all children, now and in the future.
Every year, UNICEF helps vaccinate almost half of the world’s children. Learn more about our immunization programme.
Facts about vaccines
Help families make informed decisions by building trust, sharing accurate information and strengthening confidence that vaccines save lives.
Spot vaccine misinformation and challenge it.
U-Report’s vaccine chatbot is designed to help young people learn how to spot vaccine misinformation and find clear, trustworthy answers to questions about vaccines.
