Name: Somalia’s first school vaccination drive in decades
Uploaded: 2025-12-22T14:43:32.321Z
Duration: 2 min 18 s
Description: A nationwide diphtheria vaccination campaign is underway in Somalia. Banadir and Nugal regions are among the hardest hit by a recent outbreak. Health authorities hope the initiative will halt infections and save lives.

A nationwide diphtheria vaccination campaign is underway in Somalia. Banadir and Nugal regions are among the hardest hit by a recent outbreak. Health authorities hope the initiative will halt infections and save lives.

Mogadishu

Somalia has initiated its first school-based vaccination campaign in more than thirty years to combat a diphtheria outbreak affecting the country. The campaign is set to reach 1.8 million children under the age of 15, with the exception of Jubaland State and Somaliland, where few or no cases have been reported. 

The health ministry has recorded over 3,000 diphtheria cases and more than 130 deaths, predominantly among children, with Benadir and Nougal regions being the most affected. This large-scale effort is taking place despite reductions in global funding, particularly from USAID.

Somalia’s first school vaccination drive in decades

Concerned parents are responding to calls to vaccinate their children against diphtheria, a severe and highly contagious bacterial disease that inflames the throat and nostril passages. It is Somalia's first school-based immunisation campaign in over three decades, amid the latest outbreak in the Horn of Africa. This campaign will target 1.8 million children under 15 across the country, except Jubilant State and Somaliland, where the cases are few or no outbreak has been detected. We are here to celebrate the school-based immunisation. Since the era of Sabare, this is the first time the government is starting school-based immunisation, which brings, which allows us to reach more children. The health ministry has documented over 3,000 cases nationwide, with more than 130 deaths, most of them children. The Benadir and Nougal regions are the worst affected. The vaccination campaign comes amid global funding cuts, particularly from USAID.

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