Bolivia Launches Américas Vaccination Week 2025, Prioritizing Children’s Health
La Paz, April 14, 2025 – The Plurinational State of Bolivia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sports, commenced Américas Vaccination Week (SVA) on Monday, April 14, 2025, under the unifying slogan: “Bolivia Activated Vaccination mode: Vaccinating is to protect! Bolivia united by health.” This intensive, nationwide campaign aims to initiate and complete vaccination schedules across all life stages, with a significant focus on children under five years old.
Nationwide Effort to Boost Immunity
The campaign, spanning from April 14 to May 4, seeks to administer 153,979 vaccine doses. A ample portion, 111,476 doses, is earmarked for children under five. Additionally, 42,503 doses will be dedicated to vaccinating 10-year-old girls and boys against the human papillomavirus (HPV). Furthermore, the initiative will continue vaccinating girls aged 11 to 14, aligning with the global effort to eliminate cervical cancer.
| Target Group | Vaccine | Doses Planned | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children under 5 | Multiple (Polio, Measles, etc.) | 111,476 | Complete vaccination schedules |
| 10-year-olds | HPV | 42,503 | Prevent HPV-related cancers |
| Girls (11-14) | Catch-up vaccines | Ongoing | Support cervical cancer elimination |
The bolivian government is employing diverse strategies to maximize vaccine coverage. These include vaccinations within healthcare facilities, door-to-door visits, mobile brigades reaching remote communities, and interventions in schools, kindergartens, and nurseries. Complementing these efforts are informative campaigns across media outlets, social networks, and community radio stations, bolstered by collaboration with the scientific community, the Ministry of Education, departmental Health Services, municipalities, social organizations, and neighborhood associations.
“we need the contest of parents, teachers to make this vaccination campaign come true in these two weeks. We need our children to be with their vaccines, to be updated and if there are some children who have not started, we can ask parents to also verify their vaccination card,”
Deputy Minister of Promotion, Epidemiological Surveillance and Traditional Medicine
This extensive approach aims to overcome barriers to access and ensure that all children, regardless of their location or socioeconomic status, receive the vaccines they need to thrive.This mirrors similar challenges faced in the U.S., were vaccine hesitancy and access disparities remain significant hurdles to achieving optimal public health outcomes.as an example,rural communities in states like Montana and Mississippi often face logistical challenges in accessing vaccination services,mirroring the difficulties experienced in Bolivia’s remote regions.
Bolivia Joins Regional and Global Efforts
Bolivia’s participation in Américas Vaccination Week reaffirms its commitment to protecting its citizens against 24 vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio, measles, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), meningitis, and yellow fever. This mirrors the ongoing efforts in the United States to maintain high vaccination rates against these and other diseases, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Américas Vaccination Week initiative, championed by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) since 2003, aims to strengthen national immunization programs and promote equitable access to vaccines, especially in underserved communities, including rural, border, peri-urban, and indigenous populations where healthcare access is often limited. This resonates with similar equity-focused initiatives in the U.S., such as the CDC’s “Vaccinate with Confidence” campaign, which seeks to address vaccine hesitancy and improve access in vulnerable populations.
“The most critically important thing. To say that vaccination is celebrated to make a conscious call to fathers and mothers to take their child since they were born. Vaccination is the most effective action that may be so that girls and boys grow healthy from the first day of birth with the BCG vaccine,”
Alma Morales, representative of the PAHO/ WHO in Bolivia
The BCG vaccine mentioned by Morales is primarily used in countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis. While not routinely administered in the U.S. due to the low risk of TB, this highlights the importance of tailoring vaccination strategies to specific regional and national health needs.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) you will be monitoring to measure the success of Américas Vaccination Week, and what will be done to ensure it achieves it’s objectives?
Archyde Interview: Dr. Elena Ramirez on Bolivia’s Vaccination Week 2025
Archyde News Editor: Welcome, Dr. Ramirez. Thank you for joining us to discuss Bolivia’s Américas Vaccination Week 2025.Could you begin by providing an overview of the initiative and its primary objectives?
Dr. Elena Ramirez (Director of Immunization Programs, Bolivian Ministry of Health): Thank you for having me. Américas Vaccination Week 2025 is a crucial nationwide campaign focused on initiating and completing vaccination schedules across all age groups,but particularly for children under five. Our primary objectives are to boost immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases, reduce child mortality, and contribute to the elimination of preventable illnesses in Bolivia, like measles and polio.
Archyde News Editor: the article highlights a meaningful focus on children under five. Could you elaborate on the specific vaccines being administered and the importance of this age group?
Dr. Ramirez: Absolutely. We are administering a range of vaccines, including those for polio, measles, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.Children under five are especially vulnerable,and ensuring they receive all recommended vaccines early on provides them with lasting protection against diseases that can cause serious illness,long-term disabilities,death,and a significant strain on our healthcare resources.
Archyde News editor: The HPV vaccination for 10-year-olds and girls aged 11-14 is also a significant part of this campaign. What is the rationale behind including this vaccine in the program?
Dr. ramirez: The incorporation of the HPV vaccine is a critical step in our strategy to eliminate cervical cancer. By vaccinating this age group, we are preventing the Human Papillomavirus, or HPV, which is the primary cause of cervical cancer. This is a long term effort and aligns with the global goal of eradicating this devastating disease; vaccinating children before HPV exposure is a very strong disease intervention effort.
Archyde News Editor: The article mentions the use of diverse strategies and collaboration with various organizations. Can you discuss some of the challenges you are encountering in reaching the target populations, and how are you addressing them?
Dr. Ramirez: We face challenges like any other nation. These challenges include geographical barriers, socio-economic factors, and even vaccine hesitancy. To overcome these, we’re implementing a multi-pronged approach. We are using mobile brigades to reach remote communities, increasing home visits, working with community leaders to promote vaccination and engaging social media campaigns. The combined effort provides us some resilience to mitigate against setbacks in vaccination rates.
Archyde news Editor: The initiative aligns with broader regional and global efforts, championed by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). How does Bolivia’s participation contribute to these international goals and what is the significance?
Dr. Ramirez: Our participation in Américas Vaccination Week underscores Bolivia’s commitment to protecting its citizens and contributing to global health objectives. By vaccinating against diseases like measles and polio, we are not only safeguarding our people but also contributing to the global eradication efforts, with a net positive for health security world wide. International collaboration is key to achieving large-scale protection in public health initiatives.
Archyde News Editor: Vaccine campaigns often face obstacles pertaining to trust and access. We touched on access already but what specifically does “Vaccinate with Confidence” mean to Bolivians in the long term? Where do you see the biggest hurdle in gaining people’s trust?
Dr. Ramirez: “Vaccinate with Confidence” is critical because it acknowledges our communities. It means that we must educate, promote transparency, and foster trust with parents and guardians, addressing any concerns or doubts they may have. Misinformation, fueled by digital networks, has caused concerns, and it is a challenge, but we embrace this as a vital function of public health, providing accurate data and reliable sources. By communicating with our public and improving access, we help make a real difference through real confidence.
Archyde News Editor: Looking ahead, what are the key performance indicators (KPIs) you will be monitoring to measure the success of Américas Vaccination Week, and what will be done to ensure it achieves its objectives?
Dr. Ramirez: We will be closely monitoring vaccination coverage rates, the number of vaccine doses administered, and any reported disease outbreaks. Additionally, we are tracking campaign success through the continued engagement with outreach programs and the effectiveness of our outreach programs. To ensure sustained success, we will analyze the data, modify our strategies as needed, and maintain strong partnerships with stakeholders. The success of this campaign requires commitment from everyone.
Archyde News Editor: Dr. Ramirez, thank you for sharing your insights. Our readers likely have further questions. What is one point you woudl like readers to consider or research about this campaign?
Dr. ramirez: I would encourage everyone to view the benefits of vaccination as protection of future generations. Vaccination creates the building blocks for healthy children and a healthy society. I ask our readers to ask their representatives and community leaders to support these initiatives to ensure the success of all vaccination programs.
