Only 15% of Children Fully Vaccinated: Health Experts Push Urgent Action in Liberia

Monrovia, Liberia: The International Pediatric Association (IPA), in partnership with the Pediatric Association of Liberia (PAL), has concluded a two-day vaccination awareness workshop in Monrovia.
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‎The event, held at the Sinkor Palace Hotel with theme "Immunization Champion Project" brought together health workers, international policymakers, and child health advocates from across Montserrado County.
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‎Health policy makers from Indonesia, Nigeria and others around the world shared that immunization remains one of the most effective ways to protect children. 
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‎Vaccines help the body build resistance against dangerous diseases before infection occurs, Yet, despite this, many children in Liberia are still left behind.
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Speaking at the opening, Dr. Cecelia Nuta, President of the Pediatric Association of Liberia, stressed the urgency of strengthening child health awareness.
‎“We must continue to raise awareness and correct false information about vaccines,” she said. “Parents need to understand that even if a child misses a dose, it is not too late to catch up.”
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Dr. Nuta pointed out that one of the biggest challenges is reaching remote communities. According to her, limited outreach services mean many families do not have regular access to vaccination teams.
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‎She also addressed growing concerns around the “Immunization Champions” project, a three-year initiative being rolled out under the IPA-PAL collaboration backed by the Government through the Ministry of Health under Dr. Lewis Kpoto.
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“This project is not in response to any outbreak,” Dr. Nuta clarified. “It is about prevention, making sure we don’t repeat past mistakes.”
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‎She referenced lessons from the Ebola crisis, where weak community engagement contributed to the rapid spread of the virus. 
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That experience, she noted, highlights the importance of building trust and awareness at the grassroots level.
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‎A recent report by Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) paints a worrying picture. In some communities, only about 15 percent of children are fully immunized. That leaves a large number of children exposed to diseases that could otherwise be prevented.
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‎Dr Nuta also disclose that ongoing initiative, trained community health workers will spend the next three years working directly with families educating parents, addressing fears, and encouraging vaccination.
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‎The program is being implemented with support from the Ministry of Health and other international partners, signaling a coordinated effort to improve child survival across the country.