Vaccination

Immunisation is one of the most cost-effective medical interventions in public health. However, it is estimated that 1.5 million people die every year from diseases that are preventable by a series of vaccines recommended for children by the World Health Organization and MSF. Currently, these are DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis), measles, polio, hepatitis B, Haemophilius influenzae type b (Hib), pneumococcal conjugate, rotavirus, BCG (against tuberculosis), rubella, yellow fever, and human papillomavirus – although not all vaccines are recommended everywhere.

In countries where vaccination coverage is generally low, MSF strives to offer routine vaccinations for children under five as part of its basic healthcare programme. Vaccination also forms a key part of MSF’s response to outbreaks of measles, cholera, yellow fever, and meningitis. Large-scale vaccination campaigns involve awareness-raising activities regarding the epidemic disease, benefits of immunisation, as well as information in regard to who, when and where to get the vaccine.

MSF carried out 2,271,900 routine vaccinations in 2019.

De Kinshasa à Bondo, en passant par Kisangani et Buta, suivez les chemins qu’emprunte le vaccin rougeole avant d’arriver vers les bénéficiaires.

Quand il s’agit de contenir la propagation de la rougeole, la vaccination est la seule protection fiable, gratuite et sûre qui permet de sauver des millions de décès vie chaque année. Dans la zone de santé de Bondo, au Bas-Uéle en République Démocratique du Congo, nos équipes ont pu vacciner près de 45 000 enfants de six mois à 15 ans contre cette maladie. Mais l’acheminement de ces doses de vaccin sur terrain n’est pas du tout aisé...