Somalia observed World Immunization Week 2023, themed “The Big Catch-Up,” with the aim of enhancing primary healthcare and routine immunization throughout the country to ensure that no child is left behind. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimated that Somalia’s routine immunization coverage is low and is further affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ministry of Health, along with the WHO and UNICEF, has taken steps to bridge the gaps in immunization by expanding efforts to enhance routine immunization throughout the country.
Mamunur Rahman Malik, WHO Representative to Somalia, reported that thousands of under-five children missed routine immunization in the past three years due to the pandemic, leading to a potential 20% decline in routine immunization coverage unless progress is rapidly made. The UN agencies are partnering with Somalia’s Ministry of Health to restore immunization coverage to pre-pandemic levels by developing an immunization recovery plan. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the UN agencies, conducted four rounds of accelerated immunization activities, five polio campaigns, eight COVID-19 campaigns, and nationwide integrated measles, tOPV, vitamin A, and deworming campaigns. The WHO deployed over 2,100 community health workers, while the UNICEF has deployed over 6,000 social mobilizers to disseminate health messages and track immunization for over 4.5 million people.
The joint efforts of Somalia and the UN have resulted in vaccinating more than 3.2 million under-five children against measles and 3.5 million against polio. Somali Minister of Health Ali Haji praised the UN agencies for their coordination and collaboration with multiple partners to catch up on lost progress in essential immunization. He urged the UN to continue supporting the ministry in building a robust immunization delivery system and sustaining the progress made in preventing a backslide of childhood immunization in the country.
