PAHO shares innovative country experiences to promote vaccination in the Americas – PAHO/WHO
Washington, DC, April 16, 2024. In the context of the 22nd Vaccination Week in the Americas, held from April 20 to 27, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) shares more than 15 innovative experiences that the countries of the Region have implemented to promote vaccination in their communities. This year’s theme for the week is Commit Now to Protect Your Future.
The experiences, available to read here, show innovations, creativity and investments of national immunization programs, including in vaccine mobilization, cold chain, epidemiological surveillance and awareness campaigns, among others.
“We created a digital space to recognize the innovative work and tireless efforts that countries have made to recover vaccination coverage in recent years and ensure a healthy future for all,” Dr. Daniel Salas, Executive Manager of the Special Immunization Program Comprehensive of the OPS, said. «It also highlights the importance of sharing lessons learned from countries as they work to protect communities from vaccine-preventable diseases.»
Some of the featured experiences on the website include:
- Mobile vaccination unit in Uruguay that travels to various points in Montevideo to facilitate access to vaccination.
- Cross-border vaccination between Mexico and Guatemala to provide vaccination in areas of high traffic and movement.
- Focusing on the emotional approach to vaccination to combat hesitancy in Argentina, where people are encouraged to express their feelings through stuffed animals.
- Awareness campaigns about the importance of vaccination in the Bahamas with messages from influential children and pediatricians in the community.
“We hope to continue feeding this digital and collaborative space that we have dedicated to experiences that promote vaccination,” added Dr. Salas. “We also congratulate the region’s health personnel for their efforts in bringing vaccines to even the most remote communities.”
