Immunization Advocacy Initiative Bulletin

Abstract

As scientists labor to come up with a vaccine for Covid-19, all three countries have seen a decline in number of children receiving life-saving vaccines due to the pandemic's disruptions. Anti-vaccine movements have sprung up, primarily due to fake news and misinformation related to the Covid-19 vaccine search. Now more than ever, we must safeguard the progress made in ensuring routine childhood immunization continues even during the pandemic with the necessary guidelines to keep health workers and their clients safe and to ensure increased domestic financing of immunization. In Kenya, the IAI consortium has engaged with the Ministry of Health through the National Vaccine and Immunization Program to shape the health and immunization financing space. The Ghana IAI consortium conducted campaigns on social and mainstream media, engaged with presidential candidates and campaign managers, and asked for greater immunization investments. In Côte d’Ivoire, FENOS-CI is working with the National Chamber of Traditional Kings and Chiefs as an ally to rally the government to make adequate provisions for immunization at the regional and municipal levels.