For over two centuries, vaccines have helped make the world safe—from the very first vaccine developed to protect against smallpox to the newest mRNA vaccines used to prevent severe cases of COVID-19. But the value of vaccines is measured by more than the number of doses given.    

Vaccines provide everyone the opportunity to live a long, healthy life.  

World Immunization Week 2022, under the theme “Long Life for All”, aims to unify everyone around the idea that vaccines make it possible for us to pursue our dreams, protect our loved ones and live a long, healthy life.   

By vaccinating children against diseases like measles, rubella, and Hepatitis B more are living longer and growing into healthy adults. In fact, since 2000, the number of child deaths in the Western Pacific has dropped 70% in part due to improved vaccination rates. In addition, vaccinating adolescent girls against human papilloma virus (HPV) disease and adults against influenza are essential to a life-course approach to immunization.    

In the last year, COVID-19 vaccines have helped us turn a corner on the pandemic. Growing numbers of people now have opportunities to reunite with friends and family after being apart for so long.   

Yet, not everyone has the same access to these lifesaving tools. Far too many unvaccinated kids are at risk of suffering from vaccine-preventable diseases because of vaccine inequity. In the Western Pacific Region, an estimated 1.2 million children missed out on basic vaccines through routine immunization services in 2020, the majority never receiving a single vaccine dose. Similarly, millions of adolescents and adults have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 despite global and regional efforts to protect all from COVID-19.  

This World Immunization Week, we must work to ensure everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential and pursue a life well lived.  

This year's campaign aims to:

• Build global understanding of the importance of immunization along the life course for everyone.  

• Highlight the many ways in which vaccines enable a long life for all.  

• Provide the confidence potential advocates need to enable public support for vaccination.