WHO’s Executive Board reviews progress on Immunization Agenda 2030

During the 158th session of the WHO Executive Board, 36 Member States, including delegations from each of the WHO regions, and 11 non-State actors acknowledged the continued relevance of the Immunization Agenda 2030's (IA2030) vision to ensure every one, everywhere benefits from life-saving vaccinations.

As part of Member States discussions on the IA2030 mid-review, they recognized that the global health architecture and financing landscape have shifted significantly since 2020 and stressed that the route to achieving the IA2030 vision must also adapt to these new realities. In order to achieve IA2030, Member States called out the need to place a strong emphasis on equity, ensuring that all countries reach zero-dose and under-immunized children, particularly those living in fragile, conflict-affected, and remote settings.

Member States repeatedly highlighted the importance of integration, calling for immunization to be embedded within primary health care, universal health coverage, national budgets, and health information systems. They also stressed the need to adopt a life-course approach to vaccination ensuring that people at every age get the vaccinations they need.

Given declining domestic and international financing, there was broad support for refocusing IA2030 activities. Surveillance, outbreak response, and demand generation were identified as top priorities in this constrained funding environment. Concerns over misinformation and vaccine hesitancy featured prominently in the discussions. Member States urged stronger risk communication and community engagement, backed by evidence-based messaging, to build trust and sustain demand for vaccines.

Improved data and accountability were also recurring requests. Delegates called for better subnational and disaggregated data, investment in digital immunization systems, and stronger accountability mechanisms to track progress.

Finally, Member States underscored the importance of country ownership. Aligning IA2030 with national plans, strengthening domestic financing, and ensuring sustainability pathways were seen as essential to achieving long-term immunization goals.

Looking ahead, Member States stressed that IA2030 will require sharper focus and stronger action from WHO and its partners, including Gavi, UNICEF, the Global Fund, and civil society. Member States asked WHO to provide clear prioritization guidance for the second half of the IA2030 decade, ensuring that limited resources are directed toward the most critical areas, and called on the Organization to take the lead in sustaining demand for immunization through evidence-based guidance and coordinated partner action. The IA2030 mid-term review will be discussed by all Member States at the seventy-ninth World Health Assembly in May 2026.

Additionally, Member State discussions on the End TB Strategy and the Polio Eradication Strategy also stressed the need to sustain commitment and financing. Member States warned that the world is off track to meet End TB milestones and called for stronger integration of TB services into primary health care, equitable access to diagnostics and treatments, and innovation, including new TB vaccines for adolescents and adults.

While Member States welcomed progress in interrupting wild poliovirus transmission outside limited areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan, they stress the need for intensified efforts to reach zero-dose and mobile populations. They emphasized trust-building, strong routine immunization and surveillance, and partner collaboration. Member States supported the extension of the Polio Eradication Strategy to 2029 and the integration of polio assets into broader health systems for long-term resilience.