Mogadishu (Halbeeg News) – Somalia has confirmed that over 639,000 children aged under one year are not able to access their regular childhood vaccinations.
In a joint statement, Somalia and the United Nations agencies urged humanitarian partners, local private agencies and donors to help boost children immunization efforts and outreach across the country.
“It’s vital that parents and caregivers take control of their children’s health by making sure every child gets their routine vaccinations,” UNICEF Representative in Somalia Angela Kearney said in a joint statement issued to mark the World Immunization Week.
“Vaccines ensure protection against preventable diseases and a healthier life. Vaccines are free and it’s the right thing to do,” she added.
World Immunization Week 2022 which runs from April 24-30 aims to spur greater engagement around immunization globally, to reiterate the importance of vaccination and improve the health and well-being of everyone, everywhere.
According to the UN, some 510,951 children received the third dose of penta vaccines last year to protect them from pertussis, diphtheria, hepatitis B, tetanus and Haemophilus influenzae type b, while around 80 percent of all measles cases confirmed in 2021 were children aged under 5.
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