Somali Observatory for Humanitarian Affairs The Voice of Reality.. The Eye of Humanitarian Truth in Somalia
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MOGADISHU — In a remarkable push to protect children’s health, Somalia has successfully immunized nearly 700,000 children through its nationwide “Big Catch-Up” initiative, implemented throughout 2024 and 2025.
Spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services, the campaign was made possible through strong collaboration with key partners including GAVI – the Vaccine Alliance, UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank, and other development organizations.
The campaign focused on reaching “zero-dose” children—those who had never received any vaccinations—particularly in remote, underserved, and conflict-affected areas. As part of the rollout, Somalia introduced two critical vaccines for the first time:
- PCV-13, which protects against pneumonia, and
- Rotavirus vaccine, which prevents severe diarrhea—both leading causes of child mortality across the country.
Health experts have hailed the campaign as a breakthrough moment for Somalia’s strained health system, which has long struggled with low immunization rates due to insecurity, displacement, and limited infrastructure.
“This effort goes beyond numbers—it’s about rebuilding systems, reaching the unreached, and restoring public trust in health services,” said one official from the Ministry of Health.
In addition to expanding vaccine coverage, the campaign helped strengthen Somalia’s routine immunization services, improved vaccine supply chains, and bolstered community outreach and awareness.
The Big Catch-Up is part of a wider global recovery effort to restore immunization services disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For Somalia, it represents a vital step forward in protecting vulnerable children and building a more resilient public health system.
Source: FTL Origin: view original
