In April 2025, Malawi joined the rest of the African Region in celebrating the 14th edition of African Vaccination Week (AVW) under the theme “Immunization for all is humanly possible.” This powerful message echoed across all twenty-nine districts, with a national launch held in Lilongwe, uniting communities, health workers, and leaders in a shared mission to protect lives through vaccines.
This year’s AVW marked a pivotal moment—midway through the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030)—and focused on reaching the unreached. Through a life-course approach, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WHO and partners, rolled out a series of high-impact activities:
Strategic Launch: The unveiling of the National Immunization Strategy and stakeholder dissemination events laid the groundwork for a stronger policy environment and increased investment in immunization. Diverse state and non-state actors and deliberated on approaches to ensure mobilized support and sustainable financing for the National Immunization Strategy 2024-2030 which aligns with the Health Sector Strategic Plan 2023-2030. The Minister of Health, emphasized that the strategy reaffirms Malawi’s commitment to protecting the health of its children and communities, focusing on equity, access, and resilience. Dr Neema Kimambo, WHO Representative also reiterated the importance of bridging community immunity gaps through enhanced reach of zero-dosed and underserved populations as a key objective of the Strategy.
Advocacy in Action: Engaging peer to peer educators, communities and leaders helped build trust and demand for vaccines, reinforcing the value of immunization for individual and collective health.
Globally, over the past 14 years, AVW has reached over 180 million people with vaccines, 120 million children with Vitamin A, and one hundred million with deworming tablets. In 2025, the momentum continued, with a renewed focus on zero-dose children and integrated service delivery.
By the end of the celebrations there were
• Strengthened policy and stakeholder support for immunization.
• Increased vaccine uptake in underserved communities.
• Enhanced delivery of essential health services.
AVW 2025 was more than a campaign—it was a movement, proving that with commitment and collaboration, immunization for all is not just a goal, but a reality within reach.
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