During the annual World Immunisation Week, an initiative by UNICEF which took place from April 24-30 this year, the World Council of Churches (WCC) intensified its support by appointing ten influential members from the fellowship to join the 300 Vaccination Champions, that is mobilising for world immunisation.

The objective is to exercise influence through social media blogs and other channels to raise awareness about the critical role that immunisation through vaccination plays in saving lives.

WCC acting general secretary, the Rev Prof Dr Ioan Sauca, encouraged religious leaders in all contexts to lend weight to vaccination programmes: “We must do all we can to protect people from Covid-19 and other potentially fatal diseases. It is our duty to exercise the influence trusted upon us, beyond the pulpits in our local churches. Faith actors have a crucial role to play in increasing the public confidence in vaccines, especially in the current landscape.”

The theme of Immunisation Week, ‘Vaccines Bring us Closer’, is a part of UNICEF’s broader strategic priority on immunisation between 2021 and 2025. The emphasis is on ensuring children across the world receive appropriate routine vaccines, and also educating people specifically about Covid-19 vaccines. 

(WCC)