World Immunization Week is observed in the last week of April every year to promote vaccination to help protect people of all ages against communicable diseases. The day aims at highlighting the importance of immunisation and its usage. Vaccines can help save millions of lives every year. Moreover, it has been proven that immunisation is the most cost-effective, successful and widely recognised means of protection from diseases. However, there are still about 20 million unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children in the world today. World Immunization Week aims to encourage more and more people to opt for vaccines and help save millions of lives every year. World Immunization Week is said to be one of eight official campaigns marked by the WHO, along with World Health Day, World Blood Donor Day, World No Tobacco Day, World Tuberculosis Day, World Malaria Day, World Hepatitis Day and World AIDS Day. Can Your Child Be Allergic to Vaccines? You Must Know These 5 Things about Vaccine Allergies.

World Immunization Week History

World Immunization Week was endorsed by the World Health Assembly during its meeting in 2012 May. However, even before that, Immunization week activities would take place in different regions according to different dates and different ways, but after the 2012 meeting, the more than 180 countries participated collectively. Many countries pledged to work hand in hand towards immunisation.

World Immunization Week Theme 2019

World Immunization Week theme for the year 2019 is "Protected Together: Vaccines Work!" The theme signifies the importance of unity in terms of immunisation. We all must be protected together. The theme also stresses on the fact that vaccines actually work and each and every child and adult should be vaccinated without fail. This year the event will celebrate vaccine heroes from around the world. Is Vaccination Safe for Your Child? Here’s What Every Parent Should Know about the MMR Vaccine.

World Immunization Week Objectives

Apart from the main goal of spreading awareness about the importance of immunisation throughout the life of a human being, WHO and partners lay down their aims and objective for this year.

According to WHO, the objectives of World Immunization Week 2019 are:

  • Illustrate the value of vaccines for the health of children, communities and the world.

  • Highlight the need to build on immunisation growth while approaching gaps, including through expanded investment.

  • Show how conventional immunisation is the foundation for effective, resilient health systems and universal health coverage.

This World Immunization Week, let's pledge to work towards vaccination and immunisation of more and more people around us. Let's help bust all myths around vaccination and refrain from spreading fake news and vaccine paranoia.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 22, 2019 07:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).