World Immunization Week 2026

For every generation, vaccines work.

World Immunization Week is an opportunity to highlight how vaccines have protected people, families and communities for generations – and why that protection must continue. This year’s global theme, “For every generation, vaccines work,” emphasizes the value of immunization across the life course, from infancy and childhood to adolescence, adulthood and older age.

Across the Western Pacific Region, countries have made major gains against vaccine-preventable diseases. But those gains remain fragile. Measles resurgence in multiple settings, persistent gaps in immunization coverage, and children still being missed by essential vaccination services all point to the need for renewed action to protect progress, strengthen trust and ensure immunization programmes remain strong for every generation.

In the Western Pacific Region, World Immunization Week 2026 aims to:

• highlight how vaccines have protected people, families and communities for generations, and continue to save lives today;
• reinforce the need to reach children who are still missing essential vaccines;
• underscore the importance of protecting hard-won gains against diseases such as measles and polio;
• promote immunization across the life course, including early childhood, adolescence and adulthood; and
• support confidence in vaccines by encouraging clear, accurate and trusted information.

Regional priorities

• Reaching zero-dose children – Ensuring that children who have not received even a first vaccine dose are no longer left behind.
• Re-accelerating progress against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases – Protecting hard-won gains and reducing the risk of resurgence where immunity gaps persist.
• Expanding immunization across the life course – Reinforcing that vaccines are not only for childhood, but remain important through adolescence, adulthood and older age.

Key messages

• Vaccines work – and they have protected generations of families and communities.
• Progress against vaccine-preventable diseases can be lost if immunization coverage weakens.
• Children across the Region continue to be missed, not because they do not matter, but because access is often unequal.
• Immunization remains important across life – from infancy and childhood to adolescence, adulthood and older age.
• By building trust, sharing accurate information and strengthening confidence, we can support informed decisions that protect current and future generations.

Take action for immunization

• Check vaccination records – Make sure you and your family are vaccinated on time, every time.
• Seek trusted information – Talk to health workers and rely on credible, evidence-based sources.

Protect the gains – Strong routine immunization helps prevent outbreaks and protect communities.