Biggest Global Vaccine Catch-Up Delivers Over 100 Million Childhood Doses, but Millions Still Miss Routine Immunisation
Health Correspondent A global vaccination recovery drive launched in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has delivered more than 100 million vaccine doses to an estimated 18.3 million children across 36 countries, helping close dangerous immunity gaps caused by years of disrupted immunisation services. The initiative, known as The Big Catch-Up (BCU), was launched during
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Gavi Uses Football in Africa to Boost HPV Vaccine Confidence
By Michael Gwarisa Following disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, HPV vaccine coverage declined across Southern Africa, setting back efforts to prevent cervical cancer. New data, however, point to a gradual recovery. The 2024 WHO and UNICEF National Immunisation Coverage report shows that Mozambique leads the region with 89 percent coverage, while Malawi trails at
Read MoreZambia launches malaria vaccine to protect over half a million children
Lusaka – The Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Health, today officially launched the malaria vaccine (R21/Matrix-M) as part of its Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), marking a historic milestone in the country’s fight against malaria. Over 500 000 children aged 6‒8 months will be vaccinated in the months following the launch. Malaria remains one
Read MoreSecuring a Healthier Future: Global Leaders Target Malaria and Maternal & Child Health at UNGA80
New York, 24 September 2025 — On the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), world leaders and heads of state convened for a landmark event titled “Uniting for Global Health Security.” The gathering was jointly hosted by the Global Leaders Network (GLN) for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (WCAH) and the African
Read MoreUNICEF Issues Emergency Tender To Secure Mpox Vaccines For Crisis-hit African Countries
By Staff Reporter UNICEF has announced that it has issued an emergency tender for the procurement of mpox vaccines. Vaccines can play a critical role in containing the mpox outbreak which was declared a public health emergency by both the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Read MoreBulilima Malnutrition Cure Rate Jumps To 74 Percent
By Kuda Pembere in Bulilima Bulilima has been the most improved district in the country raising its malnutrition cure rate from 39 percent in 2022 leaping to 74 percent the following year, HealthTimes has learned. In an exclusive interview during a Mat South Health Resilience Fund (HRF) impact assessment media tour, Matabeleland South Provincial Nutrition
Read MoreZim targets 4.2 million children in emergency polio vaccination
By Kudakwashe Pembere Having detected some cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV) in Harare, another has been identified in Sanyati, a district in Mashonaland West prompting Zimbabwe’s health authorities to activate an emergency vaccination campaign for children below 10 years of age this month. The vaccination blitz intends to vaccinate 4.2 million children across
Read More#Breaking: Zimbabwe Targets Two Million With Oral Cholera Vaccines
By Michael Gwarisa In a bid to provide temporal protection against Cholera infection and severe cholera symptoms, Zimbabwe will soon be rolling out a targeted Oral Cholera vaccination program in the 57 affected districts, HealthTimes has learnt. Zimbabwe is among the 18 countries battling Cholera in the world and according to the Africa Centre for
Read MoreZimbabwe records more than 95% measles vaccination coverage in Apostolic sects
FOLLOWING a measles outbreak that spread throughout the country in 2022, killing and infecting mainly unvaccinated children from apostolic sects in Zimbabwe, the country has witnessed an increase in coverage for measles vaccination in apostolic groups. By Michael Gwarisa The measles outbreak was first recorded in Mutasa District in Manicaland Province where several unvaccinated children
Read MoreGAVI reduces funding towards Zimbabwe’s Immunisation programs
Zimbabwe needs to increase its domestic funding towards health care particularly the childhood immunization program to cushion itself from the impacts of the accelerated weaning off the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) co-financing facility, HealthTimes has learnt. By Kudakwashe Pembere In the short term, Zimbabwe could become ineligible for the GAVI financing facility
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