Lesotho continues to face notable challenges in achieving full immunization coverage. Recent data show that national vaccination rates remain below the global targets and fluctuate year to year. In 2023–24, only 63% of children aged 12–23 months received all basic vaccinations, a figure that reflects persistent barriers, including geographical isolation, limited outreach capacity, and occasional surges in vaccine hesitancy and misinformation. A child is considered fully vaccinated if they’ve received all basic antigens, plus a birth dose of OPV, a dose of IPV, three doses of pneumococcal vaccine, and two doses of rotavirus vaccine. 🎙️ In today’s episode of Health Dialogues: Bridging Voices, I had the honor of interviewing a nurse working on the frontlines of Lesotho’s immunization efforts in rural clinics. From vaccine hesitancy to systemic barriers, this conversation offers a candid look at the challenges and progress shaping public health in Lesotho. 📺 Watch the full interview: https://lnkd.in/gGzP6ySY #Immunization #Lesotho #MaternalHealth #GlobalHealth #HealthDialogues

The CDC recently updated its adult and child immunization schedules to apply the updated COVID-19 and combined MMRV vaccine recommendations that ACIP adopted earlier this month. Specifically, the schedule applies individual-based decision-making to COVID-19 vaccinations and recommends that children under age four receive the varicella (chickenpox) and MMR vaccine as two separate immunizations. You can read more in this short alert I co-wrote with Lisa Campbell, Katie Bjornstad Amin and Shanna Cramer - https://lnkd.in/eHP-Dg_E

CDC today updated its adult and child immunization schedules to apply individual-based decision-making to COVID-19 vaccination and recommend that toddlers receive protection from varicella (chickenpox) as a standalone immunization rather than in combination with measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination. Individual-based decision-making means that the clinical decision to vaccinate should be based on patient characteristics that unlike age are difficult to incorporate in recommendations, including risk factors for the underlying disease as well as the characteristics of the vaccine itself and the best available evidence of who may benefit from vaccination. See statement from Acting Director Jim O'Neill: https://lnkd.in/ewW6Bwqu

The CDC updated its adult and child immunization schedules to apply clinical decision-making to COVID-19 vaccination and recommend that toddlers receive protection from varicella as a stand-alone immunization rather than in combination with measles, mumps, and rubella, and varicella vaccination. https://lnkd.in/eAWqB9sD

Immunization in school is crucial for public health, protecting students and the community from vaccine-preventable diseases and enabling a healthy learning environment. Many jurisdictions require specific immunizations for school attendance, while others offer school-based vaccination programs for common and new vaccines. School-based immunization aims to increase vaccination coverage, ensure timely protection, and prevent outbreaks by administering vaccines on-site.  

💉 Vaccination vs. Immunization:— Do You Know the Difference? During my public health practicum at Adesola Primary Healthcare Centre Lagos, one question I often hear is: “Is vaccination and immunization not the same thing?” Not exactly. While they’re closely related, they’re not the same. 🔹 Vaccination is the act of giving a vaccine whether by injection, oral drops, or nasal spray. It’s the physical process that introduces a harmless form of a germ into the body to trigger protection. 🔹 Immunization, on the other hand, is the process and result that follows. It’s what happens when the body builds immunity, that is; the actual protection that keeps you from getting sick when exposed to that disease later. 👉 Simply put:Vaccination is what we do (action we take) while Immunization is what the body achieves (the actual protection). Both are powerful tools in disease prevention and public health. They save millions of lives every year, from childhood illnesses like measles and polio to adult vaccines that prevent flu and Human PapilomaVirus (HPV). As someone passionate about community health promotion, I’ve seen firsthand how a simple vaccine can transform entire community by protecting not just individuals but families and future generations. ❤️ Let’s continue to educate, vaccinate, and immunize for a healthier world. #publichealth #vaccination #immunization #communityhealth #healthpromotion #diseaseprevention #healthcareassistant

NASN calls for school immunization policies to be evidence-based, and recommends eliminating non-medical vaccine exemptions , except where valid medical contraindications exist. https://lnkd.in/e754xr6g

#CAPWHN2025 session this morning on building confidence in immunization. Principles of effective vaccine communications include: - Adopt a vaccine recipient-centered approach (partnership) - Respect differences of opinion about immunization - Represent the risks and benefits of vaccines fairly and openly -Clearly communicate current knowledge using an evidence-based approach