UNICEF Delivers Essential Rabies, Pentavalent, and Rotavirus Vaccines to Iran for Healthier Futures

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has taken significant steps to safeguard the health of children in Iran by procuring vital vaccines, including rabies, pentavalent, and rotavirus vaccines. These immunizations are crucial in protecting young lives from potentially life-threatening diseases.

Recently, UNICEF delivered over 1 million doses of the rotavirus vaccine on August 21 and 23, with additional supplies arriving in May. This vaccine is essential as it protects children from severe diarrhea, a leading cause of illness in young children.

On August 23, UNICEF also received a shipment of 15,000 doses of the rabies vaccine, with an additional 74,400 doses anticipated by the end of September. Rabies is a fatal disease transmitted through the bites of infected animals, making this vaccine critical for public health.

Moreover, more than 255,000 doses of the pentavalent vaccine arrived on the same day. This vaccine is a single shot that protects infants against five serious diseases: diphtheria, Hib, whooping cough, hepatitis B, and tetanus. It is typically administered during the first year of a child’s life as part of their regular vaccination schedule. Just earlier, on August 3, 465,000 doses of the pentavalent vaccine had also landed in the country.

These deliveries are particularly significant following the 12-day conflict in June and underscore UNICEF’s close partnership with the Iranian government and global organizations like the GAVI Alliance. Together, they strive to ensure that every child in Iran has access to life-saving vaccines, even amid challenging circumstances.

On July 30, another shipment of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) arrived in Iran, comprising 200,250 vials. This followed an earlier shipment in April that included both PCV and the rotavirus vaccine. These efforts are supported by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI Alliance), which works to enhance vaccine access in low- and middle-income countries.

In March 2024, UNICEF facilitated the delivery of 564,000 doses of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) aimed at preventing pneumococcal infections and related fatalities among children in Iran. This shipment marked the first delivery of PCV to the country, utilizing Iran’s residual financial resources from COVID-19 vaccine procurements. It was executed in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of the Islamic Republic of Iran, utilizing UNICEF’s procurement services. The vaccine arrived from India on March 17 at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport.

The PCV was integrated into Iran’s national immunization schedule in 2024, targeting illnesses such as pneumonia, meningitis, and blood infections caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of death among children under five globally, making the timely delivery of this vaccine an essential measure for protecting infant health.

UNICEF is also dedicated to ensuring that these vaccines maintain their effectiveness from the moment they arrive in Iran until they are administered to each child. This includes supporting cold chain systems—such as walk-in refrigerators and specially-equipped delivery trucks—to maintain appropriate temperatures for the vaccines. UNICEF provides training for health workers and technical support to ensure vaccines are handled safely and in accordance with international standards.

With each delivery, UNICEF is committed to giving every child in Iran a fair chance at a healthy start in life. The national immunization program saw significant advancements in May when the health ministry began distributing domestically produced pentavalent vaccines across the country.

• As of May 5, approximately 800,000 units of the pentavalent vaccine had been developed, with projections to reach 1.2 million units within a few days.
• The pentavalent vaccine was integrated into the national vaccination program in November 2014, with each child required to receive three doses at two-month intervals, starting at the end of the second month of life.

The vaccination campaign against pneumococcal disease and rotavirus commenced in February 2024, rectifying a decade-long gap in the immunization schedule. According to Alireza Raeisi, the deputy health minister, children can access free pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccinations at all medical centers nationwide.

The pneumococcal vaccine is administered at 2, 4, and 12 months of age, while the rotavirus vaccine is given in three doses at 2, 4, and 6 months, with the latter administered as oral drops.

Through these comprehensive efforts, UNICEF and its partners are making strides to improve child health outcomes in Iran, ensuring that every young life is protected with the necessary vaccines.