Sélectionnez votre langue
Newly released data shows Somalia making notable progress in child immunization
15 July 2025, Mogadishu, Somalia – The annual World Health Organization (WHO)/United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) released today reports that 70% of children in Somalia are fully vaccinated, an increase of 28% between 2012 to 2024, with steady improvements registered across all antigens since 2019.
WUENIC presents country level immunization datasets on key infant and childhood vaccinations, allowing the identification of areas where progress has been made, where opportunities remain and where immunization coverage has declined.
Somalia has invested heavily in upping coverage rates. In 2024, the accelerated Big Catch-Up initiative, spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services in collaboration with UNICEF and WHO, targeted zero-dose children – those who have never received a single vaccine – and children with partial (incomplete) vaccination. This year, multiple vaccination campaigns have been held, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and rotavirus vaccines introduced to address childhood pneumonia and diarrhoea, the leading causes of death in children under 5 in Somalia.
“Immunization is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions that prevents vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Minister of Health and Human Services H.E. Dr. Ali Haji Adam. “To continue strengthening the health system in Somalia we must enhance the capabilities of our frontline health workers and increase efforts to create awareness in communities about lifesaving vaccines. We all have more work to do.”
Expanding routine immunization coverage in Somalia has long been hampered by ongoing conflict, displacement, inaccessibility and limited health infrastructure. For decades coverage was below 50%, leaving an estimated 1.5 million children missing out on vaccines. It is encouraging to note that through the Big Catch-Up, nearly 700 000 zero-dose children received their first dose of pentavalent vaccine which protects against potentially fatal diseases like diphtheria and whooping cough.
“Alongside the Big Catch-Up campaigns, Somalia has strengthened routine immunization through outreach to underserved areas in collaboration with neighbouring countries, and with the recent introduction of 2 new lifesaving vaccines, PCV and rotavirus. These efforts are vital, as over 1.5 million children have missed essential vaccines. Intensified action continues to address the ongoing polio outbreak that began in 2017,” said WHO Representative in Somalia Dr Renee Van de Weerdt.
Reliable data is a crucial pillar of any health system. To strengthen data quality, UNICEF, in collaboration with WHO, supported the Federal Ministry of Health in conducting a nationwide data quality improvement exercise across all districts and health facilities. This initiative, combined with investments in the overall immunization system and advocacy efforts, resulted in a significant improvement in data quality and vaccination rates.
“Investments and coordinated efforts to strengthen Somalia’s child immunization programme are yielding high results,” said UNICEF Acting Representative in Somalia Nisar Syed. “For example, UNICEF is leading on improving vaccine storage capacity and the ability to keep them at the right temperature. To date, 90% of health facilities providing vaccinations have been equipped with solar-powered refrigeration. Together with the ministries of health, our dedicated partners and resilient health workers, children are being reached with lifesaving vaccines, even in some of the most difficult and hard-to-reach places.”
WUENIC 2024 findings that the number of zero-dose children has decreased in countries that, like Somalia, are supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, underscores the importance of investing in immunization. Key partners, including the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the World Bank and the Gates Foundation have been instrumental in improving child survival rates.
Now is the time to build on these gains and sustain momentum towards the Immunization Agenda 2030 which aims to ensure that everyone, everywhere, at every age, fully benefits from vaccines to improve health and well-being.
View the WUENIC report here
For more information, contact:
Mohamed Osman, Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services Head of Communication and Public Engagement,
Lisa Hill, UNICEF Somalia Communication Specialist,
Khadar Hared, WHO Somalia Communication Officer,
A shot at a healthier future: Somali mothers embrace lifesaving vaccines for their children
30 June 2025, Mogadishu, Somalia – Mothers visited the Hamar Jajab Maternal and Child Health Centre in Banadir region on a hot morning in May, babies cradled in one arm, toddlers clinging to the other, to join the queues of caregivers waiting under the shade of a big tree inside the facility, all hoping to get their children vaccinated.
The Centre is among 8653 fixed sites that co-delivered measles, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and polio vaccines as part of the first integrated campaign of its kind to protect Somali children from measles, pneumonia, and polio.
Translating government willpower into action
The integrated campaign provides a model of how to translate political commitment into action and safeguard children from preventable diseases.
In April 2025, Somalia introduced the PCV into the national immunization programme in an initiative led by the Federal Ministry of Health, with support from WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and other partners. Simultaneously, there has been high-level commitment to respond to poliovirus as soon as it is detected.
As part of the integrated campaign, health workers provided measles and PCV vaccines to children across the country, while in Somaliland, Puntland, and parts of Galmudug, oral polio vaccine (nOPV2) was administered to children to combat the spread of variant poliovirus detected in December 2024
These campaigns provided measles vaccines to 3.3 million children aged between 6 months and five years, PCV to 2.6 million children aged between 1 and 5 years, and polio vaccine to 1.6 million children aged under 5 years, improving immunization coverage, reducing the risk of outbreaks and contributing to a healthier future for Somalia’s children.
Mothers’ relief at having access to a suite of vaccines
Mulki Osman Ali, a 26-year-old mother of 2 – a son aged 2 and a daughter just over one-and-a-half years old – was among the mothers present at the health centre in Hamar Jajab. She explained this was the first time her children had the opportunity to receive the PCV and rotavirus vaccines.
“For a long time, I worried that my children were missing out on important vaccines that children in other countries receive,” she said. “When I heard these vaccines were finally available in the country, I didn’t wait. I wanted to be among the first to protect my children from diseases that have claimed the lives of so many others.”
Her words reflect the commitment of Somali parents who are determined to give their children a healthier, safer future.
Outreach campaign in remote areas
Health workers, including supervisors from WHO Somalia and other partners who helped oversee the campaign, worked tirelessly to deliver the vaccines and ensure the campaign’s success.
In remote and underserved areas, where communities have limited access to health care services, outreach and mobile strategies played a crucial role in reaching and protecting children from life-threatening diseases.
“We administered 3 vaccines to children, to protect children against measles, polio and pneumonia. Measles is currently widespread in the country, and we reached many parents and children who hadn’t been able to reach health facilities. By going into their neighbourhoods, we provided opportunities for more children to be vaccinated. These vaccines help prevent outbreaks of poliovirus and respiratory infections that can develop into pneumonia. Parents believe in the benefits of vaccination. During the integrated vaccination campaign we vaccinated many children, sometimes reaching over 100 individuals, in a day” said Ladan Ahmed, a health worker in Hargeisa, Somaliland.
Community trust in local health workers is a cornerstone of successful vaccination efforts, in a society where both parents play crucial roles in ensuring children can access health care.
“I’ve always made sure my children are vaccinated. I have 3 children — 11, 9 and 3 years old. Today, my youngest just received his vaccines. Vaccines protect children from measles, and many other illnesses. I encourage all mothers to vaccinate their children. The health worker is someone we know and trust. They visit us regularly and are always ready to help,” said Gudon Omar Yusuf.
Though challenges persist, Somalia is making strides in its vaccination efforts thanks to the leadership of the health authorities with the support of Gavi, WHO and UNICEF Somalia and many other partners.
Strengthened trust in health workers, coupled with expanded outreach to remote communities, is closing immunization gaps, leading the shift towards protecting more children and promoting long-term health throughout the country.
For more information, please contact:
Khadar Hared, Communication Officer, WHO Somalia
Tel: +252619800011
Email:
Powering Health Systems: Solar Energy Transforms Disease Control in Berbera, Somalia
12 May 2025, Mogadishu, Somalia – As the world marks Immunization Week 2025, a powerful story of innovation and impact is emerging from Somalia’s coastal city of Berbera. Once affected by frequent power outages that jeopardized the delivery of essential health services, Berbera’s hospitals are now running around the clock thanks to newly installed solar battery systems supported by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) and WHO Somalia.
The shift to solar energy is doing more than keeping the lights on; it is energizing the city’s health system by enabling uninterrupted laboratory services, safeguarding lifesaving vaccines, and strengthening the fight against measles and polio, two of Somalia’s most persistent public health threats.
“The biggest challenges we used to face were related to electricity,” says Mursal Ahmed Jama, Administration of Berbera Regional Hospital. “But now, since solar power is more sustainable, providing 24-hour power with sunlight during the day and batteries working at night, these challenges have been addressed.”
Power disruptions once hindered lab tests, delayed diagnoses, and threatened the integrity of vaccines stored in hospital refrigerators. Today, solar power ensures that machines, refrigerators, and air conditioning systems run continuously, supporting accurate diagnostics and consistent immunization services.
“In Berbera, it was very possible for the power to go off while you were in the middle of work,” explains Hussein Yusuf Hussein, lead medical lab technologist. “But now, the refrigerators are always running, the AC is consistently working, and the machines operate effectively. Solar power has brought significant positive change.”
The upgrades have had a direct impact on routine immunization and the broader surveillance and response system for priority diseases such as measles and polio, key focuses during Immunization Week 2025.
“This solar system is available 24/7, making the diagnosing process easier than before by reducing the waiting time at reception,” adds Mursal Ahmed Jama. “That means children and families can be served more efficiently.”
The solar initiative is part of a wider effort by KSrelief and WHO Somalia to strengthen health systems across the country, from diagnostics to vaccination access.
“The King Salman project was conceived for the whole of Somalia,” says Dr. Ireneaus Sindani, head of WHO’s Hargeisa Liaison Office. “Strengthening the health system is key not only for measles and polio but for diagnosing and treating all patients. Strong laboratories and human capacity are the foundation of universal health coverage.”
“Without this equipment, outbreak response would have been more difficult,” he adds. “We are thankful to KSrelief for giving us the resources to establish this.”
As Immunization Week 2025 shines a spotlight on the importance of vaccines and strong health systems, Berbera’s story is a testament to how sustainable energy can power not just hospitals but also hope, prevention, and progress.
For more information, please contact:
Khadar Hared, Communication Officer, WHO Somalia
Tel: +252619800011
Email:
Somalia marks World Immunization Week with the introduction of major new vaccines
1 May 2025, Mogadishu, Somalia – This week, the Federal Government of Somalia, in collaboration with WHO Somalia, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Gavi and other partners, joined hundreds of countries worldwide to mark World Immunization Week under the theme “Immunization for All is Humanly Possible”.
The commemoration occurred as Somalia is making significant strides in immunization efforts with the recent introduction of two lifesaving vaccines, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and the rotavirus vaccine, vital in protecting Somali children against pneumonia and diarrhoea, major causes of child mortality. Somalia is also actively launching a nationwide measles catch-up campaign to curb another leading cause of child death.
This year’s World Immunization Week not only celebrates the immediate impact of vaccines but underscores the forward-looking goals of Immunization Agenda 2030. As Somalia introduces new vaccines and strengthens its immunization coverage, the country is positioning itself to protect future generations from a broader range of preventable diseases, aiming to reach individuals of all ages.
Despite ongoing efforts by the Government of Somalia, supported by WHO and global partners, to strengthen health systems and improve well-being, the country continues to grapple with significant humanitarian challenges. Millions of children and women remain at risk from preventable diseases, underscoring the urgent need for increased and sustainable funding. While domestic investment in health should progressively grow, international partners and donors will continue to play a vital role in the coming years. At the same time, exploring innovative health financing mechanisms can help broaden engagement from both public and private actors, fostering a collective drive towards improved health outcomes for all.
On 28 April 2025, a high-level event in Mogadishu brought together key stakeholders, including Ministry of Health officials, members of professional bodies – the Somali Medical Association and Pediatric Association – and representatives from international organizations including WHO Somalia, UNICEF, Save the Children, SOS and other partners. The gathering highlighted the importance of ensuring universal access to vaccines as a cornerstone of public health and well-being.
H.E. Dr Maryama Mohamed Hussein, State Minister of Health and Human Services of the Federal Government of Somalia, addressed the gathering, emphasizing the urgent need to strengthen vaccination efforts to safeguard the future of Somali children. In her speech, she stated: “The Ministry of Health is ready to work with all stakeholders to ensure children are protected fully from vaccine preventable diseases, especially now that we have the vaccines needed to save lives.”
The event highlighted the importance of immunization in saving lives and building a healthier, more resilient Somalia. Mustafa Jama Awil, Director of the Family Health Department at the Ministry of Health, spoke passionately about the role of vaccines in preventing life-threatening diseases, calling for continued collaboration: “Reaching every child with vaccination is humanly possible if we work as a team. Immunization is the backbone of health and one of the most important interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality.”
Representing WHO Somalia Country Office, Health Policy Advisor for Universal Health Coverage Dr Marina Madeo emphasized the importance of strengthening routine immunization to build a healthier future for Somalia.
"Immunization is not just a health intervention – it is a foundation for equity, for the development of human capital, for social and economic development. Current efforts with campaigns and the Big Catch Up are critical in reaching large numbers of children who have never accessed vaccination. At the same time, the sustainable way to improve immunization coverage is to strengthen routine immunization in health facilities, moving from the current 41% to more than 80% of facilities providing immunization services by the end of 2025.”
Dr Madeo cited the recent introduction of rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines, the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Child Survival and strong engagement from professional associations as clear signs of progress. “Our collective efforts towards Universal Health will be effective when we protect and nurture Somalia’s greatest wealth, its children,” she said.
The introduction of the pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines marks a significant milestone in protecting children from life-threatening illnesses in Somalia. These vaccines are expected to reduce child mortality and improve overall child health outcomes across the country.
1"A dose of good news this year," said UNICEF advocacy specialist Dr Ubar Farah. "These 2 vaccines will address 2 of the leading causes of death among children under 5 – pneumonia and diarrhoea. UNICEF is pleased to be part of this effort by bringing into the country 2.5 million doses of the pneumococcal vaccine and 1.2 million doses of the rotavirus vaccine. Together with the Ministry of Health and other partners we will facilitate their rollout to communities and ensure they reach every child."
As Somalia proceeds on its journey towards Immunization Agenda 2030, the country’s commitment to advancing vaccination efforts is unwavering. Speakers at the event encouraged Somali parents to vaccinate their children regularly, ensuring that every child is protected and Somalia’s future is secure. The Ministry of Health and Human Services reiterated its commitment to improving immunization programmes and called on all Somali parents to heed health advice to safeguard the next generation.
For more information, contact:
Victor Chinyama, UNICEF Chief of Communication:
Khadar Hared, Communication focal point, WHO Somalia:
