(Monrovia, Liberia, June 20, 2025) – Assistant Minister for Preventive Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Caullau J. Howe, has issued a passionate call to health workers across the nation to ensure that no child is left unvaccinated, regardless of the remoteness or underserved nature of their community.
Dr. Howe made the appeal during the national launch of African Vaccination Week (AVW) 2025, held today at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center in Monrovia.
The theme for this year’s campaign is “Immunization for All is Humanly Possible,” amplifying a global commitment under World Immunization Week to reach every eligible person with life-saving vaccines.
“The best way a nation can prosper is through a healthy population,” said Dr. Howe. “Our children, who are the future of this country, must be protected through timely immunization, no matter where they live.”
Dr. Howe specifically called on County Health Officers, vaccinators, and immunization partners to intensify efforts to reach “the last mile” and ensure equitable vaccine access across Liberia, especially in hard-to-reach communities.
In a major announcement at the event, Dr. Howe declared Liberia’s official transition to a single-dose schedulefor theHuman Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, in alignment with updated World Health Organization (WHO)recommendations.
“Today marks a significant advancement in our fight against HPV and its devastating consequences, particularly cervical cancer,” she said. “This shift to a single-dose schedule will simplify our immunization program, make it more accessible, and ultimately more impactful in protecting the health of our girls.”
Dr. Howe emphasized that vaccines remain one of the most effective tools in public health, preventing illness, disability, and death.
Also speaking at the launch was Dr. Alinon Kokou, Regional Director of the Africa CDC’s Western Regional Coordination Center. He described African Vaccination Week as a powerful call to action.
“It reminds us that access to vaccines is not a luxury, it’s a right,” said Dr. Kokou. “Reaching every person with life-saving vaccines is possible when we collaborate across sectors and borders.”
The keynote address was delivered by Mrs. Shirley G. S. Fahnbulleh, who passionately reinforced the theme.
“Just over a century ago, smallpox was one of the world’s most feared diseases, claiming millions of lives,” she said. “Thanks to a global vaccination campaign, smallpox became thefirst disease in human history to be eradicated. That’s the power of immunization.”
Mrs. Fahnbulleh noted how vaccines have transformed deadly childhood illnesses like measles, mumps, and rubella into largely preventable conditions.
“Parents once lived in constant fear of losing their children to these diseases,” she reflected. “Now, millions of children grow up healthy, vaccinated, and safe.”
African Vaccination Week is commemorated annually to raise public awareness, strengthen immunization systems, and ensure inclusivity, with a focus on reaching populations in remote areas.