World Immunisation Week 2020: All You Need To Know

New Delhi: As the world remains in the grip of the novel coronavirus, also knows as COVID-19 which has claimed over 2 lakh lives across the globe, hundreds of scientists are working tirelessly in the development of a vaccine to take on the new virus. While we may not have a vaccine for COVID-19 yet, but vaccines have helped the world tackle many other deadly and highly contagious diseases like polio and measles. The World Health Organization says that amid a health crisis like the ongoing pandemic, the risk of other outbreaks like measles and polio increases. WHO celebrates last week of every April as World Immunisation Week, with an aim to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against diseases.

Immunisation is widely recognised as one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective health interventions and saves millions of lives every year. Yet, there are still nearly 20 million children in the world today who are not getting the vaccines they need, says WHO.

Also Read: Combating COVID-19: High-Level Task Force To Work On Vaccines, Drug Testing Constituted

The theme for immunisation week this year (April 24- April 30) is #VaccinesWork for All and the campaign focuses on how vaccines – and the people who develop, deliver and receive them – are heroes by working to protect the health of everyone, everywhere.

Vaccination protects us all! During emergencies like #COVID19, risk of outbreaks like measles & polio increases. #VaccinesWork to help keep us safe, keep us out of hospitals and protect our health workers. Make sure you & your family are protected through vaccines, reads the tweet by WHO.

Also Read: How Long Will The World Have To Wait For A Vaccine Against COVID-19? Experts Answer

World Immunisation Week 2020

According to WHO, this year, the main goal of the World Immunisation Week is to urge greater engagement around immunisation globally. Furthermore, the organisation wants to highlight the importance of vaccination in improving “health and wellbeing of everyone, everywhere throughout life”.

The organisation also through twitter listed several lethal yet vaccine preventable diseases, that pose a serious threat to humans.

It’s #WorldImmunizationWeek! Vaccine-preventable diseases include:  Cervical cancer, Cholera, Diphtheria, Ebola, Hep B, Influenza, Japanese encephalitis, Measles, Meningitis, Mumps, Pertussis, Pneumonia, Polio, Rabies, Rotavirus, Rubella, Tetanus, Typhoid, Varicella, Yellow Fever. Yes, #VaccinesWork!, tweeted WHO.

Also Read: India Working With Global Partners To Develop Vaccines To Fight COVID-19: Health Ministry

WHO further highlights the importance of the World Immunisation Week and raising awareness on the need for vaccines as part of the 2020 campaign. The organisation in a statement says that following are the goals for Immunisation Week 2020:

• Demonstrate the value of vaccines for the health of children, communities and the world.
• Show how routine immunisation is the foundation for strong, resilient health systems and universal health coverage.
• Highlight the need to build on immunisation progress while addressing gaps, including through increased investment in vaccines and immunisation.