By Maher Ahmed - Reporter
Somalia, July 13 2026 – Somalia's Ministry of Health on Sunday launched consultations on a new national immunization strategy, bringing together federal and regional officials and partners to strengthen vaccination programmes.
The three-day meeting, organized by the Ministry of Health, is aimed at drafting a roadmap for expanding access to immunization services and improving vaccine coverage across Somalia.
Participants include representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health, health ministries from the federal member states, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Save the Children, private healthcare providers and higher education institutions.
Opening the consultations, the ministry's Director General, Yusuf Hassan Isack, said the new strategy would form a key part of the government's efforts to strengthen primary healthcare and improve immunization services nationwide.
He highlighted recent progress in Somalia's national immunization programme, including reforms introduced over the past year to strengthen coordination and oversight.
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During the consultations, technical experts from the federal government, federal member states and development partners are expected to discuss the main pillars of the strategy, including vaccine delivery, service coverage, financing and programme implementation.
Somalia has made progress in expanding routine immunization, but vaccination coverage remains below global targets. According to the latest estimates by WHO and UNICEF, about 70% of Somali children are fully immunized, up from around 42% in 2012. However, an estimated 1.5 million children under the age of five remain "zero-dose"—meaning they have never received a routine vaccine—leaving them vulnerable to preventable diseases.
The Ministry of Health said the consultations are intended to produce a unified national strategy to ensure equitable access to quality immunization services across all regions of the country.
Somalia's immunization programme is supported by international partners, including WHO, UNICEF and Gavi, as part of broader efforts to reduce vaccine-preventable diseases and strengthen the country's healthcare system.