Global Vaccine Drive Reaches Millions of Children Missed During Pandemic
Korede Abdullah 
ABUJA, Nigeria – A massive global immunisation campaign delivers over 100 million vaccine doses to millions of previously missed children, marking a major step in closing pandemic-era gaps.
The “Big Catch-Up” initiative reaches 18.3 million children across 36 countries, including 12.3 million who had never received a single vaccine.
“This shows what is possible when we work together,” says Sania Nishtar.
The campaign, led by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, World Health Organization and UNICEF, also delivers 23 million polio vaccine doses.
Despite progress, health agencies warn that millions of children remain unvaccinated globally.
Nigeria alone vaccinates about two million zero-dose children and administers millions of additional doses.
“The effort helps reverse pandemic setbacks,” says Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Experts stress that sustained investment is critical as measles outbreaks rise.
The initiative highlights persistent inequities in access to healthcare, particularly in fragile and underserved regions.
About the Author
Otamere Gladness 
Oluwatobi Adu 
Koko Maxwella 