Somalia has kicked off a nationwide vaccination campaign aimed at protecting over 3 million children under the age of five from measles, polio, and pneumonia.
The week-long initiative, launched on Monday, is being carried out in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Somalia’s federal and regional governments. According to the WHO, the campaign seeks to shield vulnerable children and communities from life-threatening but preventable diseases.
The Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) is providing support for the drive, which targets 3.1 million children across the country.
Despite progress, including the absence of reported poliovirus cases since 2014 and Africa’s official polio-free status declared in 2020, Somalia continues to face significant hurdles due to insecurity, weak health infrastructure, and climate-related challenges. These factors have hampered access to vaccines, especially in high-risk areas.
The WHO has classified parts of Somalia among the seven global regions most affected by polio transmission, citing overpopulation, conflict, and under-resourced health systems as persistent obstacles.
In a major development last month, Somalia introduced two new vaccines—pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and rotavirus vaccine—into its national immunization schedule. These vaccines aim to curb pneumonia and diarrhoea, which, along with measles, remain among the leading causes of illness and death among Somali children.
Health officials say the vaccination drive marks a critical step in strengthening child health and improving long-term disease prevention in the country.