“For every generation, vaccines work.” World Immunization Week 2026 gets underway: prevention, equity and collective responsibility.
World Immunization Week (WIW), promoted by the World Health Organization and celebrated annually until 30 April, begins on 24 April, and is one of the most significant events in the global public health arena dedicated to promoting vaccination. The initiative serves as a strategic opportunity to raise awareness, aimed at strengthening collective understanding of the importance of vaccinations as a fundamental tool for reducing morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable infectious diseases.
World Immunization Week (WIW), promoted by the World Health Organization, begins on 24 April and constitutes one of the main global public health initiatives aimed at strengthening vaccination strategies and the culture of prevention. In a complex epidemiological context, characterised by the re-emergence of preventable infectious diseases, inconsistent vaccination coverage and the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), this event takes on a strategic significance that goes beyond the symbolic, serving as a practical means of guiding health policies, professional practices and individual behaviour.
Vaccinations are one of the most effective, safe and cost-effective interventions in the history of medicine, with a documented impact on reducing morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases. Their benefits extend beyond individual protection, making a decisive contribution to reducing the circulation of pathogens through collective immunity which, in highly effective vaccination strategies, can achieve herd immunity levels, thereby protecting even those who have not been vaccinated. From this perspective, vaccination-based prevention is fully integrated into public health strategies aimed not only at controlling infections but also at limiting the use of antimicrobials, which are the main driver of the emergence and spread of resistance. The impact of vaccination programmes in the history of public health is well documented: from the eradication of smallpox to the containment of polio, and the significant reduction in the incidence of numerous infectious diseases, vaccinations continue to save millions of lives every year.
However, recent epidemiological data point to worrying signs, with a decline in vaccination coverage across various geographical areas and the consequent resurgence of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, diphtheria and whooping cough. These phenomena are closely linked to complex factors, including vaccine hesitancy, socio-economic inequalities and difficulties in accessing healthcare services.
Against this backdrop, World Immunisation Week aims to boost informed demand for vaccination through institutional communication, health education and the active involvement of various stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, policy-makers, the education sector and the general public.
The aim is to promote a culture of prevention based on scientific evidence, countering misinformation and encouraging informed and responsible choices.
The role of vaccinations in combating antimicrobial resistance is of particular importance. By preventing the onset of bacterial and viral infections, vaccines help to reduce the use of antibiotics and, consequently, the selective pressure that favours the development of resistant strains. In this context, vaccination strategies are fully integrated into antimicrobial stewardship programmes, serving as an essential tool for the sustainability of healthcare systems.
At regional level, vaccination promotion activities form part of the strategies outlined in the National Vaccination Prevention Plan (link) and are implemented through organised programmes that ensure the active and free provision of recommended vaccinations throughout the lifespan. The availability of effective and safe vaccines now makes it possible to prevent a wide range of infectious diseases, significantly reducing the risk of complications and, consequently, the need to use the National Health Service, both in primary care and in hospital treatment.
Despite the progress made, however, critical issues remain regarding the failure to achieve optimal coverage in certain population groups, necessitating a renewed commitment from health authorities and the scientific community. In this regard, health communication plays a crucial role, serving as a strategic tool to promote informed participation in vaccination programmes and to strengthen trust in institutions and science.
In line with these objectives, regional health information platforms serve as a point of reference for citizens and healthcare professionals, offering up-to-date, evidence-based and easily accessible content. Among these, Vaccinarsinsardegna.org, together with PROCARe Sardinia, acts as a tool to support health promotion, providing useful information on vaccination schedules, the organisation of services and how to access vaccination clinics.
World Immunisation Week is therefore a key opportunity to reaffirm the value of vaccination as a global public good and to renew our collective commitment to protecting individual and community health. At a time when health challenges are becoming increasingly complex and interconnected, investing in prevention means building more resilient, equitable and sustainable health systems.
We therefore invite all citizens to seek information from official sources, to check their vaccination status and to participate in the recommended immunisation programmes, thereby actively contributing to the protection of public health.
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