What makes a vaccine?
Vaccines are miracles of modern medicine that have saved hundreds of millions of lives. But behind every vaccine are years of careful research and rigorous testing. Here’s what you need to know.

Every child, regardless of birthplace, deserves a healthy future
Shot@Life Champion Charles Ajala's Letter to the Editor during Advocate to Vaccinate.
America and the WHO: An Essential Partnership
With continued U.S. leadership in the World Health Organization in doubt, it’s time to remember that this longstanding partnership has made our world—and our country—healthier and more secure.
Bird Flu, AMR, and Livestock, Oh My!
Bird flu and antimicrobial resistance have been the stars of recent global health headlines. And while seemingly unrelated at first glance, these two issues have far more in common than you may think.
Looking Back, Looking Ahead 2025
2024 saw many twists and turns in the global vaccine landscape. Another year come and gone, 2025 brings new challenges and new promises for global immunization.
Community Health Workers Are Critical To Providing Care
In many countries, community health workers are they key to ensuring health services reach the most isolated and the most vulnerable.

Letter to the editor: Utah politicians must stand up for vaccines
Shot@Life Champion Lori Harding's Letter to the Editor during Mobilize to Immunize.
Stopping the Silent Pandemic
From a High-Level Meeting at this year’s UN General Assembly to this week’s international observance, anti-microbial resistance is increasingly a major focus in global health. Here’s what you need to know.
Today is World Pneumonia Day
Today, on World Pneumonia Day, we take you through some of the basics of pneumonia and why vaccines are among the best tools we have to prevent the most serious cases.
World Polio Day 2024
Today, we celebrate UN Day and World Polio Day, and recognize the progress made towards eradicating polio—in large part through the international cooperation made possible by the UN.

Your advocacy of childhood immunizations matters
Shot@Life Champion Diane Glasgow's Letter to the Editor during Mobilize to Immunize.
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During a World Health Assembly event co-hosted by Gavi last week, new data was unveiled to demonstrate the ownership over immunization programs among lower-income countries.
Lower-income countries supported by Gavi upped their contributions by 19% from 2023, with 84% coming from domestic budgets.
Country-led, sustainable development in immunization financing is key to #HealthForAll.
May 27

A record number of people were driven from their homes by conflicts and disasters in 2024; the number of internally displaced people has doubled since 2018.
Sudan reported 11.6 million internally displaced people, the highest ever for a single country. Its neighboring countries are undergoing the same crises.
Help us reach refugees and internally displaced people in East Africa with lifesaving health interventions. Visit www.shotatlife.org/healthystart to get started.
May 23

The WHO has recently warned that about half of the world’s population is now at risk of dengue, with an estimated 100-400 million infections occurring each year.
One vaccine (QDenga) has been licensed and approved to combat dengue in some countries, but many more are under evaluation.
As cases continue to rise from 2024, their worst year yet, in Mexico, Latin America, and Canada, neglected tropical diseases are taking center stage at #WHA78.
May 22

#WHA78 is poised to address several pressing issues in the global health sphere, from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases to sustainable financing for in-country health systems.
But one milestone that generated a buzz in the lead-up to WHA is the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement.
This major development in multilateral health cooperation takes the lessons from the COVID-19 response and institutionalizes equitable distribution of health resources during pandemic emergencies.
Stay tuned for more #WHA immunization content.
May 21

This week marks the start of the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78).
#WHA78 comes at a time of unprecedented changes to global health that will reshape the WHO’s priorities and programs going forward.
The adoption of the Pandemic Accord; addressing surging outbreaks of measles, meningitis, and yellow fever; and prioritizing new, sustainable models of global health financing beyond 2025 will all be topics of conversation, most of which are tied directly to evolving immunization efforts.
For a preview of what’s to come, check out Gavi’s blog at the link in our story!
May 20

As of last week, the measles case count in the U.S. passed 1000—the second-most cases in a year since the disease was certified eliminated in the U.S. a quarter century ago.
And experts worry that, due to the lag in CDC’s data on case numbers in each state, the national total may not be accurately capturing the detail or extent of measles’ spread.
Measles vaccines save lives. Learn more and stay involved at shotatlife.org. For more content on the state of health in the U.S., check out @healthforuscampaign
May 16

33 years.
According to a recent WHO report, that’s the difference in life expectancy between the world’s highest (84.5 years old in Japan) and lowest (51.5 in Lesotho).
While significant progress has been made in increasing life expectancy, disparity remains pervasive. Universal health coverage—a pillar of this year’s World Health Assembly—is key to addressing this disparity and ensuring long, healthy lives around the globe.
May 14

A massive thank you to those who have Advocated to Vaccinate in the last six weeks. For a roundup of this spring’s advocacy efforts, check out our most recent blog! #linkinbio
Another advocacy activation has now come and gone, but the stakes are still higher than ever. We are currently facing one of the most turbulent global health environments to date—but YOUR voices are making a difference.
The deadline is quickly approaching for a “Dear Colleague” letter to Senate appropriators, asking them to support robust funding for polio eradication in Fiscal Year 2026. We need your help contacting your senators and asking that they add their names in support. Fill out our latest petition to do so at the link in our story.
May 13

A recent KFF poll shows that despite shakey trust in government and health agencies, 82% of respondents in the U.S. reported at least a “fair amount” of trust in their health providers—more than any other source—to provide reliable information about vaccines.
The front line of these conversations that ultimately build trust in vaccines is made up largely of nurses—both in America and across the world.
In a world of misinformation, nurses remain a steadfast voice of assurance. This #InternationalNursesDay, we recognize the vital role of nurses in ensuring that families around the world feel comfortable and confident about immunizations.
May 12

The first three months of 2025 have seen more than DOUBLE the total number of yellow fever cases in 2024.
The Pan American Health Organization states that the deadly virus is appearing in areas where it hadn’t been seen recently, with notable surges in the Americas and Africa.
According to researchers, the resurgence of yellow fever is likely due to a lack of vaccination—a problem resulting, in part, from limited in-country vaccine supplies in disease hotspots. With increased population mobility in today’s world, vaccinations against this and other mosquito-borne diseases are crucial to containing their spread.
May 8

Immunization is often disconnected from national health security strategy, but #DidYouKnow countries like Uganda and South Africa are leading the charge to change that?
Immunization infrastructure is a key part of pandemic preparedness and response and has three critical advantages:
🧑⚕️ Trusted community networks – essential for quickly communicating risk during outbreaks
🖇️ Cold chain infrastructure – a backbone of commodities distribution
📍 Tracking systems – immunization drives are data-driven, geo-tagged health data that can be used for outbreak warnings
Mainstreaming immunization into PPR is not just smart, it’s urgently necessary.
May 7

Outbreaks move fast; with vaccines, we can move faster.
With outbreaks of highly infectious diseases increasing worldwide, vaccine stockpiles are of vital importance. @gavialliance’s next strategic period will focus on stockpiling to advance rapid response efforts and protect another generation of children from disease.
Expanding these global vaccine stockpiles for Ebola, cholera, meningitis, and yellow fever will protect millions when every second counts.
Learn more at https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/vaccine-stockpiles-guide [link in story]
May 6
![Outbreaks move fast; with vaccines, we can move faster.
With outbreaks of highly infectious diseases increasing worldwide, vaccine stockpiles are of vital importance. @gavialliance’s next strategic period will focus on stockpiling to advance rapid response efforts and protect another generation of children from disease.
Expanding these global vaccine stockpiles for Ebola, cholera, meningitis, and yellow fever will protect millions when every second counts.
Learn more at https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/vaccine-stockpiles-guide [link in story]](https://shotatlife.org/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png)
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