Child Vaccine Catch-Up Campaign on Track to Reach 21 Million Target: UN
The Big Catch-Up initiative, aimed at immunizing children missed due to Covid-19 disruptions, is expected to meet its goal of reaching 21 million children across 36 countries in Africa and Asia.
The United Nations announced on Friday that the global effort to vaccinate children who missed routine immunizations during the Covid-19 pandemic is progressing towards achieving its target.
The campaign, known as 'Big Catch-Up,' aims to reach 21 million children aged one to five years across 36 countries in Africa and Asia with life-saving vaccines.
By the end of December 2025, an estimated 18.3 million children had been reached, receiving over 100 million doses.
This initiative was launched to address the disruptions caused by the pandemic, which severely impacted health systems and vaccination campaigns, leading to a resurgence of diseases such as measles and polio.The World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, noted that while significant progress has been made, challenges remain.
The campaign faced misinformation and disinformation surrounding vaccines, compounded by declining vaccine confidence in some communities and reduced foreign aid spending.
These factors contributed to a rise in measles outbreaks globally, with approximately 11 million cases reported in 2024.
The organizations emphasized the need for improved strategies to counteract the spread of false information, as well as increased investment in immunization services.Efforts to combat misinformation include addressing the politicization of vaccines and health issues, as well as promoting accurate content on social media platforms.
WHO's Kate O'Brien highlighted concerns about the influence of social media algorithms that prioritize sensational content over reliable information.
UNICEF's Ephrem Lemango emphasized the need for high-quality content to counter the spread of anti-vaccine narratives and called attention to the economic incentives driving disinformation.
The campaign, known as 'Big Catch-Up,' aims to reach 21 million children aged one to five years across 36 countries in Africa and Asia with life-saving vaccines.
By the end of December 2025, an estimated 18.3 million children had been reached, receiving over 100 million doses.
This initiative was launched to address the disruptions caused by the pandemic, which severely impacted health systems and vaccination campaigns, leading to a resurgence of diseases such as measles and polio.The World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, noted that while significant progress has been made, challenges remain.
The campaign faced misinformation and disinformation surrounding vaccines, compounded by declining vaccine confidence in some communities and reduced foreign aid spending.
These factors contributed to a rise in measles outbreaks globally, with approximately 11 million cases reported in 2024.
The organizations emphasized the need for improved strategies to counteract the spread of false information, as well as increased investment in immunization services.Efforts to combat misinformation include addressing the politicization of vaccines and health issues, as well as promoting accurate content on social media platforms.
WHO's Kate O'Brien highlighted concerns about the influence of social media algorithms that prioritize sensational content over reliable information.
UNICEF's Ephrem Lemango emphasized the need for high-quality content to counter the spread of anti-vaccine narratives and called attention to the economic incentives driving disinformation.