Themed: "The Big Catch-Up",
As the world marks this year's World Immunisation Week, global leaders have been urged to mobilise support for continued immunisation against vaccine-preventable diseases across the world, and particularly in low- and middle-income nations including
This year's edition of the global event is coming after the world has heaved a sigh of relief from the rampaging coronavirus pandemic, which disrupted routine immunisation programmes across countries of the world.
Vaccine maker giant,
About World Immunisation Week
According to the
Themed: "The Big Catch-Up",
"2023 is our global opportunity to catch-up on lost progress in essential immunisation. We need to reach the millions of children
In its message to the world, the vaccine maker said there is heightened concern and apprehension around the status of vaccination programmes around the world, and that it is not time to drop the ball.
Speaking on its long history of war against preventable diseases, the company's Medical Director for Sub-Saharan Africa,
"Vaccines underpin our global health security by preventing and controlling over 30 infectious diseases, reducing unnecessary hospitalisations and controlling infectious disease outbreaks. We should not forget that they are one of the world's most powerful and cost-effective public health tools available and have successfully helped to eradicate, eliminate, and manage many deadly infectious diseases. Smallpox has been eradicated and polio is nearly gone. Cervical cancer could become the first cancer to be eliminated."
The director said though the global vaccination coverage figures are looking up, "but they still mask huge inequalities that we cannot afford to ignore. To help protect as many people as possible from life-threatening illness, we're working to develop and distribute vaccines throughout the world. We've already seen that by channeling resources to the most promising public health opportunities, we can have an impact across all areas of life."
The official said vaccines play a critical role in combating antimicrobial resistance, noting that they can reduce antibiotic use by preventing bacterial infections in the first place, "such as with the pneumococcal and meningococcal vaccines, and can also prevent viral infections such as flu, which can provoke secondary infections requiring antibiotics."
Caution
The company said it believes that more than at any time in history, people all over the world are now benefiting from safe and effective vaccines to prevent infections and diseases. "These injections have protected people of all ages, from newborns to seniors."
"However, our work is not done. Many viruses and bacteria still present a serious health risk, and so we continue to focus on research and development in new areas, with the goal of adding more approved vaccines to tackle pathogens," the official added.
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