Child health and survival
Making sure every child in every community can thrive.
Every year, millions of children die from causes that are preventable and treatable.
Rates of immunization have been backsliding to their lowest levels in three decades. The story of the children who are not being vaccinated is one of inequity, poverty and underserved communities.
Meanwhile, conflict, economic strife and a changing climate continue to threaten food security around the globe.
UNICEF is working tirelessly to make sure that every child has the access to the primary health care and nutrition they need to not only survive, but thrive.
What needs to happen
- Make sure that all children have access to routine immunizations. In 2024, vaccines need urgent funding. To ensure that all children have the protection they need to thrive, especially against polio, malaria and human papillomavirus (HPV), large scale catch-up vaccination campaigns are needed alongside plans for the introduction of new vaccines. By continuing to invest in vaccines, we can help build a world where fewer children than ever die of preventable illnesses.
- Strengthen primary health care by building stronger health systems. That means training and supporting community health workers, building trust in health institutions, creating stronger supply chains and building more vaccination sites, among other things, to realize improved health outcomes for all children.
- Combat food insecurity, making sure every child has access to good nutrition. A nutritious diet is fundamental to a child’s survival and development. Across the globe, one in three children under 5 is affected by malnutrition.
How UNICEF is responding
UNICEF’s mission is to reach every single child with life-saving vaccines.
We’re on the frontlines, bringing doses to the communities that need them the most, including in some of the hardest to reach parts of the world.
Protected from disease, these children have the opportunity to thrive and live healthy lives.
Every year, UNICEF supplies vaccines to reach 45 per cent of the world’s children under five years of age.
And through nutrition programmes in more than 100 countries, we detect, treat and care for malnourished children – helping them to survive and recover.
Stories and impact
Information for policymakers and partners
Millions of children continue to miss out on their most basic vaccines. At the same time, severe acute malnutrition is on the rise. Service disruptions, economic chaos, conflict and overburdened health systems have threatened a devastating rise in preventable child deaths.
Urgent action is needed from governments to fund, build and strengthen health systems, addressing the deep inequities that exist.
UNICEF has helped reach more than 760 million children with life-saving vaccines, preventing more than 13 million deaths, in the last 20 years.
Information and advice for parents
Vaccines are amongst the greatest advances of modern medicine. They help to keep our families and our communities safe.
Good nutrition is the bedrock of child survival and development.
If you’re looking for information on routine childhood vaccinations and good nutrition, this is where to start.