The Campaign to End the Pandemic

UNICEF has been entrusted with the Largest and Fastest Vaccination Program Ever.

And UNICEF Won’t Stop Until the Fight Against COVID-19 Is Won.

Here’s What It’ll Take to Make It Happen

Scroll for More

Our Shared Mission

2 Billion Doses in 2021

Delivered in over 180 Countries180+ Countries

A COVAX health care worker in the field stands wearing a face mask and carrying a large bag

Vaccines will first go to health workers and at-risk adult populations

Our COVAX Partners

Why UNICEF?

The global agreement known as the COVAX Facility is led by CEPI, GAVI, UNICEF and WHO. UNICEF, in collaboration with the PAHO Revolving Fund, has been entrusted to lead vaccine delivery in more than 180 countries, representing 80% of the world’s population.

UNICEF has spent 75 years building an unprecedented global-health support system

UNICEF runs the largest humanitarian supply warehouse in the world

UNICEF currently immunizes 45% of the world’s children every year

UNICEF is the only organization with the infrastructure, experience and expertise already in place to make it happen as fast as possible.

What It Takes to Deliver Vaccines

Follow UNICEF's vaccine journey from point of purchase to reaching the families who need it most.

Step 1

Purchasing

UNICEF is using its power as the world's largest vaccine purchaser to negotiate prices on other countries' behalf and to keep vaccines affordable.

Step 2

Preparing Countries for Arrival

UNICEF, using tools like impact investing, is pre-positioning supplies like PPE and waste management and preparing the cold chain for the vaccines' arrival.

Step 3

Transport Worldwide

A well-planned international air freight operation coordinated by UNICEF on behalf of participating countries and supported by manufacturers is underway to transport large quantities of vaccines.

Step 4

Pre-Building Confidence

UNICEF is working to build vaccine confidence through social-listening and communication campaigns in each country's language and cultural context.

Step 5

In-country delivery

From drones to donkeys, UNICEF is doing whatever it takes to deliver the vaccines, with special attention to humanitarian settings and war zones.

Step 6

Into the arm

UNICEF is training health care workers to administer the vaccines as safely and efficiently as possible.

Step 0

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Vaccines are only part of the job.

It will also take diagnostics, treatment and an effort to re-strengthen overburdened health systems. That's why UNICEF is also delivering 500 million COVID tests and 245 million COVID treatments so countries can easily detect and treat the virus—and slow its spread while waiting for the full vaccine rollout.

UNICEF and partners are helping provide equitable access to:

900 million testing kits
165 million treatments
Programs to build vaccine confidence

Help UNICEF deliver

COVID-19's Toll on Children

And what UNICEF is doing about it

a UNICEF worker gives a health interview to a patient, both people wearing face masks

Children Unvaccinated

THE PROBLEM: Routine vaccinations against diseases like measles and polio save an estimated 2-3 million lives every year. But in countries like Uganda, where this child is pictured, COVID-19 has interrupted many of these vaccination campaigns—and now, approximately 80 million additional children under the age of one are at risk of contracting preventable diseases.

UNICEF’S SOLUTION: UNICEF is accelerating routine vaccines to at-risk areas and will begin “catch-up campaigns” for children under the age of five. They are also working to re-strengthen health systems that were burdened by the COVID-19 outbreak. Learn More...

Students
Out of School

THE PROBLEM: At the peak of the pandemic, Arif (pictured) and 1.6 billion children like him were out of school, missing out on months of socialization and learning that are key to their development. Currently, 168 million schoolchildren are still out of school, and 1 in 3 has been unable to access remote learning while their schools are closed.

UNICEF’S SOLUTION: UNICEF has drastically scaled up remote learning so children can continue their education no matter where they are. In 2020, UNICEF reached 274 million children with educational resources like digital platforms, television, radio and take-home printed packages. UNICEF continues to work with other government organizations to develop a plan to reopen schools. Learn More...

a toddler receives food in a squeezable packet

Malnutrition Rising

THE PROBLEM: COVID-19 has disrupted food systems, upended nutrition services, and threatened food security for vulnerable children and their families.As of November 2020, an additional 6 million children under age 5 may have suffered from wasting or acute malnutrition in 2020,and 140 million more children are projected to be living below the poverty line.

UNICEF’S SOLUTION: In addition to re-establishing key health and nutrition services, UNICEF is rushing Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food packets to the most vulnerable children, which can bring a child like Jenty (pictured) back from the brink of starvation in just weeks. Learn More...

Mental Health Issues

THE PROBLEM: The pandemic has elevated levels of anxiety, stress, loneliness for families across the world. Even worse, it’s increased instances of abuse, gender-based violence and neglect—and as of November 2020, more than two thirds of mental health services had been disrupted.

UNICEF’S SOLUTION: UNICEF is taking a multi-tiered response to the mental health crisis, including providing social service workers like UNICEF Child Protection Officer Jihad Tala (pictured, right) and child-friendly spaces for children in need, investing in gender-sensitive support through schools and communities and prioritizing prevention and response to gender-based violence in humanitarian actions. Learn More...

a girl washes her hands outside at a public water bucket dispenser with other children, all of whom wear face masks

Safe Water Needed

THE PROBLEM: In the least developed countries, three quarters of people, more than two-thirds of schools and a quarter of health care facilities lack the basic hygiene services needed to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. On average, 700 children under five die every day from diseases caused by the lack of safe water, sanitation and hygiene.

UNICEF’S SOLUTION: UNICEF is investing in climate- resilient WASH services in homes, schools, hospitals and public spaces and fostering community-led training initiatives to change hygiene behavior at the local level. In places like Cambodia, this can make a lasting difference. Learn More...

Join the Campaign to End the Pandemic

Donate to UNICEF's COVID-19 Response

Help support equitable vaccine distribution, testing, and treatments, and restart programs for children around the world.

Donate Now

To inquire about a major gift, please contact Werner Orellana at 917-720-1321 or at worellana@unicefusa.org.
Advocate

Ask Congress to Support UNICEF’s Effort to Equitably Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines

Advocate Today