Herd immunity is not a slogan - it is a shield we build together

Skopje, 29 April 2025 - Immunization Week gives us a wonderful opportunity to stand together in partnership — to remind everyone that vaccines save lives.  

Vaccines are one of humanity’s greatest success stories. They are the safest and most effective tool we have to protect our children from life-threatening diseases. Thanks to decades of effort, millions of children today are healthier, learn better at school, and grow into thriving members of their communities.  

To keep all our children safe — including newborns and those who cannot be vaccinated — we must maintain vaccination rates above 90–95%. Herd immunity is not a slogan; it is a shield we build together.  

Let me give you just two examples. The MMR (Measles Mumps and Rubella) vaccine is one of the most important for children because measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world – causing severe disease, complications and even death. In North Macedonia we are still far from heard immunity, with national MMR coverage at just 72,7% in 2024 – a decline from 73.4% in 2023. 

Another concern is low coverage of the HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccination with only half of 14-year-old girls in North Macedonia fully vaccinated. In fact, both girls and boys should be vaccinated, as there is ample scientific evidence that the HPV vaccine can prevent up to 90% of cervical cancer cases. 50% coverage is simply not enough.  It’s safe. It’s effective. And it can save even more lives, not just by protecting the vaccinated, but by building herd immunity to protect others. 

Parents are the key decision-makers on vaccinating their children. UNICEF and the Ministry of Health have worked in partnership to ensure parents have reliable, trusted information that helps them understand the benefits of vaccination. If your child has missed a routine vaccination, please visit your local health center. Catch-up vaccinations are available and can save lives. 

UNICEF urges all parents to protect their children from these and other vaccine preventable illnesses. Together we can build a future free of diseases that should be consigned to history.