Vaccines are one of the best ways to protect children from dangerous diseases.

As World Immunisation Week wraps up, health professionals continue to urge parents and guardians about the importance of childhood vaccinations.

World Immunisation Week highlights the legacy of vaccines and the millions of lives saved. This year’s theme is ‘For every generation, vaccines work’.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 150 million lives have been saved by vaccines since 1974, more than 30 life-threatening diseases and infections have been prevented by vaccines, and 20 million children have missed at least one vaccine dose in 2024.

“Vaccines have long been one of the most powerful tools in public health. Over the past 50 years, vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives – not by accident, but because ordinary people made the decision to protect themselves, their children and their communities from diseases like measles, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, and rotavirus,” WHO said.

Child health nurse Sr Hendriena Kock (left) and Sr Liesel Rose-Benjamin (centre) explain how parents can use their child’s Road to Health booklet.

WHO said newer vaccines against malaria, HPV, cholera, dengue, meningitis, RSV, Ebola, and mpox are saving even more lives, and helping people at every stage of life live longer and healthier thanks to scientific advancements.

The City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for community services and health, Councillor Francine Higham, raised concerns over the declining immunisation rates across Cape Town.

Councillor Francine Higham with staff at Eastridge Clinic.

Between July 2025 and March 2026, City Health administered 294,894 doses of vaccines to children up to the age of 12, compared to 310,786 in the previous comparative period.

Source: https://iol.co.za/news/south-africa/2026-05-03-falling-childhood-vaccination-rates-spark-concern-as-world-immunisation-week-ends/