Vaccination Week across Americas aims to deliver 66.5M doses
Countries across the Americas are stepping up efforts this week to boost vaccination coverage. Vaccination Week in the Americas, which began on Saturday (Apr. 26) and runs through May 3, aims to ister approximately 66.5 million vaccine doses.
Currently, measles immunization is receiving special attention due to outbreaks in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with over 2,600 confirmed cases and three reported deaths. This figure is more than ten times higher than the 215 cases recorded during the same period in 2024.
Last year, Brazil regained its measles-free status, and so far, the cases confirmed this year do not jeopardize that certification, as there is no sustained transmission of the disease within the country.
To prevent this, the Ministry of Health is urging anyone who missed the vaccine in childhood—or is unsure if they received it—to get the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Luciana Phebo, Head of Health and Nutrition at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Brazil, noted that the country has significant regional influence and has long been a model for successful vaccination policies. This makes preventing the resurgence of measles in Brazil all the more crucial.
“Measles is a highly contagious virus that can be fatal, especially for malnourished children or those with weakened immune systems. Its control is also a key indicator of the effectiveness of the national immunization program—not only for measles, but for other vaccines as well,” says Luciana Phebo.
“Brazil had previously eliminated measles but lost that status a few years ago. Now, we hope history won’t repeat itself—not only because of the disease’s domestic impact, but also due to Brazil’s role on the global stage,” adds Phebo.
Another vaccine-preventable disease raising concern this year is yellow fever. So far, 189 cases have been confirmed across the continent—three times the total reported last year. Brazil s for the majority, with 102 cases and 41 deaths.
Campaign
This year’s campaign, led by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), is themed “Your Decision Makes a Difference.” In addition to boosting vaccination coverage, the initiative s the goal of eliminating more than 30 diseases by 2030—including 11 that are vaccine-preventable, such as measles, yellow fever, and hepatitis B, as well as bacterial meningitis and cervical cancer.
