Vaccines save lives: making a difference for past, present, and future generations of children
Photo-history of vaccines in Tajikistan.
Just five decades ago, parents expected at least one child to die from preventable diseases, but now, thanks to vaccines, every child has a chance to survive and thrive.
On April 24th, UNICEF and its partners are celebrating 50 years since the start of the Essential Programme on Immunization (EPI) which had helped eliminate smallpox, fight polio, and significantly reduce child deaths by more than 80 per cent worldwide.
In Tajikistan, the EPI has been operational for the last three decades since the country gained independence. The photos taken during this period showcase the important work done by UNICEF, the Tajikistan's government, and other partners like World Health Organization, GAVI (Vaccine Alliance), the European Union, the World Bank, the Government of Japan and many others to make sure all children in the country get essential vaccines and stay healthy.
UNICEF/Tajikistan/2006/Pirozzi
A healthcare worker is conducting a catch-up vaccination against diphtheria in one of the healthcare facilities in Dushanbe (2006).
Ensuring access to the vaccines to all children in Tajikistan since its’ independence.
The EPI is a comprehensive global initiative aimed at ensuring that children receive essential vaccines to protect them from preventable diseases. The program focuses on both routine immunization and addresses specific health challenges, including COVID-19. The EPI in Tajikistan has been a critical public health intervention, saving millions of lives and protecting countless children from illness and disability since its’ independence in 1993.
From door-to door immunisation campaigns to vaccine catch-up sessions in schools, the Government of Tajikistan with the support of partners deployed many ways to cover all children even in the furthest to reach districts.
UNICEF/Tajikistan/2006/Pirozzi
UNICEF/Tajikistan/2006/Pirozzi
A mother is comforting her 6-year-old son while he is receiving MMR vaccine (measles, meningitis, and rubella) in one of the healthcare facilities of Dushanbe (2006).
UNICEF/Tajikistan/2012
Amina, a third year student of the Khorog State University, visited the healthcare center to get vaccine against diphtheria and tetanus (2012).
Vaccines saved millions of lives in Tajikistan and continues to save many more.
In 1990, Tajikistan had a high under-five mortality rate of 105 deaths per 1,000 live births. In 2017, in large part due to EPI, this rate had dropped significantly to 34 deaths per 1,000 live births. Over the past three decades, Tajikistan has made great strides in child immunisation.
In 2017, 97 per cent of children aged 12-23 months old and 82 percent of children aged 24-35 months received all essential vaccines.
And in the last five years, the country has added three more vaccines to its national immunisation schedule: IPV, MMR and a pneumococcal vaccine. These vaccines help protect children against serious diseases such as polio, meningitis, rubella, mumps and pneumonia.
Your life and even your parents’ lives were saved by the vaccines.
Over the past few decades, by expanding the EPI and implementing a national immunization schedule, millions of children in Tajikistan were protected from preventable diseases. Vaccines work wonders every day, ensuring the health and safety of generations in Tajikistan. You and your parents are among those saved, including from such deadly and dangerous diseases as polio!
UNICEF/Tajikistan/2021/A. Nurullaev
UNICEF/Tajikistan/2021/A. Nurullaev
UNICEF and WHO delivered 4.6 million doses of polio vaccine to help protect almost 1.4 million children under the age of six from poliomyelitis (2021).
UNICEF/Tajikistan/2022/Babajanyan
UNICEF/Tajikistan/2022/Babajanyan
Father Namazqul holds his two daughters Fotima and Zuhro, who received their polio vaccines during the supplementary immunization campaign amidst COVID-19 pandemic (2021).
UNICEF/Tajikistan/2022/Babajanyan
At a health centre in Dushanbe, two-month-old Bobojon receives his second dose of polio vaccine (2021).
Undisrupted vaccination amid COVID-19.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, UNICEF played a critical role in supporting Tajikistan's vaccination efforts, both for routine immunisation and COVID-19 vaccines. Since the Government of Tajikistan launched its COVID-19 vaccination campaign in March 2021, UNICEF facilitated the delivery of more than 13.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines through the COVAX framework and over the period of 2020-2023. Through these efforts, more than 70.9 per cent of the target population received two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
In the midst of the pandemic, UNICEF emphasized that routine immunization should continue as much as possible, while adhering to local COVID-19 response guidelines. With support from UNICEF and WHO, all standard infection prevention measures were implemented to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission to health facility staff and visitors.
Community health centers and health workers leading the vaccine drive in Tajikistan.
In Tajikistan, community health workers are playing an important role in increasing the country's child immunisation coverage. Thanks to their efforts, coverage in rural areas is 84% for children aged 24-35 months.
Despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, health workers have continued to provide immunisation services, keeping everyone safe. Thanks to their hard work and the willingness of so many parents and caregivers to vaccinate their children, the future looks brighter for all children in the country.
UNICEF/Tajikistan/2012
UNICEF/Tajikistan/2012
In Tajikistan, vaccinators walk kilometers to ensure all children, including in the furthest areas of the country receive their routine immunisation and stay healthy (2012).
Joining hands for a safer future of children in Tajikistan.
Tajikistan has made impressive strides in child immunization over the past three decades. The country had expanded vaccination coverage, introduced new vaccines, and collaborated with international partners.
UNICEF, along with the World Health Organization (WHO), has been a key player in this effort. Together, we work closely with the Tajikistan government to ensure high-quality vaccine supplies and address any concerns about vaccines. WHO and UNICEF also help monitor progress by reviewing national immunization coverage reports. Additionally, we partner with global initiatives like the Global Vaccine Alliance and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative to support Tajikistan’s surveillance, vaccine procurement, capacity-building, communication, and community engagement.
Our collective efforts ensure that no child misses out on life-saving vaccines, contributing to the improved health and well-being of Tajikistan’s population today and tomorrow.