Overview
Vaccination is an effective way to prevent many diseases, such as influenza. Vaccines save about 2-3 million people annually. The first vaccine against smallpox was developed in 1796. Smallpox was eliminated globally in 1980 because of vaccination.
Objectives
- Educating the community about the protection that vaccines provide against disease and death at an early age.
- Involving health policy makers and immunization program managers in adopting a lifelong vaccination approach.
- Creating support among healthcare professionals for lifelong vaccination.
Facts:
- 290,000 to 650,000 respiratory-related deaths annually are caused by seasonal influenza.
- Developing countries are affected by 99% of deaths among children (under five years old) due to influenza-related lower respiratory tract infections.
- Nearly one billion cases of seasonal influenza occur annually in the world.
Official Date:
Globally: August 1 - 31, 2025.
Locally: Safar 7 – Rabi' Al Awwal 8, 1447 AH.
References
World Health Organization - Seasonal Influenza.
Saudi Ministry of Health Portal - World Health Days 2024 - Immunization Awareness Month.