Haiti's COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign Is Underway
Haiti became the last country in the Americas to receive a shipment of COVID-19 vaccines when 500,000 doses donated by the U.S. government via the COVAX dose-sharing program arrived in Port-au-Prince on July 14.
The vaccine rollout began soon after, amidst rising gang violence and social upheaval. UNICEF is supporting Haiti's MInistry of Health with all transportation, delivery and storage of COVID-19 vaccines. "From the arrival of the vaccines at the central level, UNICEF is the one in charge of distributing vaccines to the sites," UNICEF Immunization Specialist Rafael Saráchaga said in August.
Watch the video to learn more about UNICEF's impact in the fight against COVID-19 in Haiti:
Vaccination efforts slowed after a devastating earthquake hit southwestern Haiti on August 14, killing 2,200 people and leaving an estimated 650,000 in urgent need of humanitarian aid. But the work continues.
There is much more to be done: Haiti has one of the world's lowest COVID-19 vaccination rates. UNICEF has installed more than 920 solar-powered refrigerators in Haiti's health centers for safe vaccine storage, and is conducting community awareness campaigns to fight misinformation and encourage people to get vaccinated as supplies become available.
As a key partner in the COVAX facility, UNICEF won't stop working to distribute COVID-19 vaccines equitably until the world is safe. Please donate.
Top photo: Hervé Ternier, holding his 19-month-old daughter, Rosaika, received his COVID-19 vaccine at a UNICEF-supported vaccination site in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on July 24, 2021. " I used to say that I did not want to take the vaccine because of all the negative things that were said on social media," says Ternier. "But after talking with my boss, me and my wife found out it's a good thing to take it to protect our daughter." © UNICEF/UN0493322/Fils Guillaume. Video edited by Tong Su for UNICEF USA.
HOW TO HELP
There are many ways to make a difference
War, famine, poverty, natural disasters — threats to the world's children keep coming. But UNICEF won't stop working to keep children healthy and safe.
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories — more places than any other children's organization. UNICEF has the world's largest humanitarian warehouse and, when disaster strikes, can get supplies almost anywhere within 72 hours. Constantly innovating, always advocating for a better world for children, UNICEF works to ensure that every child can grow up healthy, educated, protected and respected.
Would you like to help give all children the opportunity to reach their full potential? There are many ways to get involved.
