UN’s Big Catch-Up Campaign Nears 21 Million Vaccination Goal Amid Ongoing Challenges. Johannesburg, South Africa — The United Nations’ambitious “Big Catch-Up “campaign, designed to immunize children who missed routine vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic, is nearing its goal of reaching 21 million children across 36 countries in Africa and Asia, according to recent updates.
The campaign, which concluded in March 2026, has administered over 100 million doses of life-saving vaccines to approximately 18. 3 million children aged one to five. Among these, 12.
3 million were “zero-dose “children who had not received any vaccines before, while 15 million received their first measles vaccine. Despite these achievements, the campaign’s success is tempered by ongoing challenges.
The resurgence of vaccine — preventable diseases like measles, attributed to the pandemic’s disruptions, continues to pose a threat.
Additionally, the spread of misinformation and disinformation about vaccines, along with cuts in foreign aid spending, threaten to undermine the progress made.
The campaign’s impact is significant, not only in terms of vaccinations delivered but also in improving immunization programs to better identify and vaccinate children who have missed earlier doses.
As the campaign concludes, the focus shifts to sustaining these gains and addressing the persistent challenges of vaccine hesitancy, social media disinformation, and the need for sustained investment in routine immunization systems to ensure the health and well — being of all children.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: enca
Source: Estelle.Bronkhorst
