Report of the African vaccination week 2016

From 24-30 April 2016, countries in the African Region commemorated the 6th African Vaccination Week (AVW).The goal of AVW is to strengthen immunization programmes in the African Region by raising awareness on the need and right of every person to protection from vaccine-preventable diseases. It aims to keep immunization high on national and regional agendas through advocacy and partnerships. It also promotes delivery of other high-impact lifesaving interventions. The theme for this year’s commemoration – “Close the Immunization gap. Stay polio free!” – draws attention to the need to attain universal immunization coverage in the African Region. It is also a celebration of the important polio eradication milestone that has been reached in the African Region, and a reminder that countries need to remain vigilant to ensure they stay polio free.