Since the creation of the most successful vaccine – the polio vaccine – by Dr Edward Jenner in the late 18th century, vaccines have been, and continue to, be a most powerful weapon against fighting diseases. (https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/history-of-vaccination/a-brief-history-of-vaccination)
For Immunization week, the theme is “for every generation, vaccines work”. This campaign “aims to promote how vaccines have safely protected people, families, and communities for generations – and continue to safeguard our future.” (https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2026/04/24/default-calendar/world-immunization-week-2026–for-every-generation–vaccines-work)
In 2024, the WHO reported an increase in measles cases globally while it has also noted an uptick in other preventable diseases such as meningitis and yellow fever. (https://www.who.int/news/item/24-04-2025-increases-in-vaccine-preventable-disease-outbreaks-threaten-years-of-progress–warn-who–unicef–gavi)
It is therefore imperative that promoting the benefits of vaccination continues given the rise in cases of preventable diseases.
To celebrate World Immunization Week, there is a display of textbooks on immunization in the Reading Room of the library.
