Around the World: Giving the Gift of Vaccination

Vaccines truly are the gift that “keeps on giving” as they protect against dangerous and potentially fatal illnesses. In fact, the routine childhood immunizations most American children typically receive protects against 14 different diseases. Unfortunately, this is not the case for children in developing countries. More than 3 million people die from vaccine-preventable disease each year, and approximately half of these deaths are in children younger than 5 years of age.

Charitable organizations such as UNICEF, Shot @ Life, and others have started initiatives to empower Americans to decrease vaccine-preventable deaths of children in developing countries. The programs allow members of the public to make donations to purchase vaccines for others around the world. Modest donations — $5 to protect a child from polio and measles for life or $50 to vaccinate 50 children against measles and rubella for life — can be life-saving gifts.

So at this time of year, when giving and receiving are central to the holiday experience, remember that sometimes the simplest gifts can last a lifetime.

Additional resources

Shot @ Life: Vaccinations against pneumonia, diarrhea, polio and measles
The Red Cross: The Measles and Rubella Initiative
UNICEF: Vaccinations against malaria, polio, tetanus and measles
Rotary International: Polio Eradication Initiative