UNICEF-supported national immunization campaign in Homs and Hama

UNICEF continues to support children across Syria with essential health services despite COVID-19 challenges. Working with the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners, UNICEF concluded a five-day national immunization campaign against polio, reaching over 475,000 children under the age of five in the governorates of Homs and Hama, including those staying in collective shelters for displaced families.

Thanks to generous contributions from the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), GAVI, the vaccine alliance, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), UNICEF provided over 100 mobile health teams and 300 fixed health centres in the two governorates with Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV) and accompanying Vitamin A supplements, as well as necessary cold chain equipment to ensure the safety of the vaccines. Prior to the immunization campaign, UNICEF also supported community outreach volunteers to go door-to-door and talk to families about the safety and the importance of the vaccines.