Catch-Up Vaccination: Insights from 5 Big Catch-up Country Case Studies

Routine immunization programmes were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic leading to children to miss protection provided by vaccine doses typically given during infancy and the second-year of life. The resulting gaps have left a large number of un- and under-immunized children, increasing the risk of outbreaks and resurgence of many vaccine-preventable diseases. Despite efforts to resume services, evidence remains limited on the overall progress made including children caught up as well as advances in advocacy, training, and policy.

"The Big Catch-Up (BCU): Essential Immunization Recovery Plan" is a global initiative that set a path to catalyse immunization programmes, framed by three key approaches: catch-up missed vaccination doses in eligible children, restore coverage rates to pre-pandemic levels, and strengthen immunization systems within primary health care approaches.

The Alliance and the Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals Department of WHO have worked with country partners in Cameroon, Nigeria, Pakistan, United Republic of Tanzania and Yemen to gather evidence on how catch-up vaccination approaches were planned, implemented, and institutionalized.

Webinar objectives

This webinar shared key learnings and insights from individual country case studies alongside cross-country synthesis. Through such integration, the session provided an overview of the processes, challenges, and strategies for strengthening routine immunisation, introducing and institutionalising catch-up vaccination efforts.
This session is available with French interpretation on our channel.