65 Million Vaccinations Administered in Latin America and the Caribbean

The 2024 Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA) announced today that it administered more than 65 million vaccine doses in 34 Latin America and the Caribbean countries.

Since PAHO initiated VWA in 2002, the initiative has reached over 1.2 billion people, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of immunization efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The 22nd annual VWA was conducted in late April 2024, underscoring the Region's commitment to combatting vaccine-preventable diseases. Key Achievements of VWA 2024 include, but are not limited to, the following:

Over 30 million doses of influenza vaccines were administered in 23 countries,

VWA successfully vaccinated 3.8 million individuals against polio,

4.3 million against measles,

2.7 million people against the human papillomavirus.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) announced on January 14, 2025, this data reflect a substantial increase of 2 million doses administered during VWA 2023.

"Vaccination week has been a flagship initiative of our organization for more than 20 years," PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa commented in a media statement.

"Historically, our Region has been a leader in disease elimination. However, for over a decade, vaccination coverage has declined significantly due to several factors, including the false perception that diseases that have been eliminated or controlled no longer pose a risk to people's health." 

In December 2024, the PAHO reported on transmissible diseases affecting the Region. Countries reported more than 12.6 million dengue cases, nearly three times the number reported in 2023.

These included 21,000 severe cases and over 7,700 deaths.

Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico account for 90% of dengue cases and 88% of deaths, with Brazil having the largest share.

The PAHO also confirmed Chikungunya, a viral disease transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes, impacted over 425,000 people in the Americas in 2024, a new record.

In 2025, PAHO plans to collaborate with countries in the Latin American and Caribbean Region to expand access to vaccines, particularly for vulnerable communities.

As of January 14, 2024, the U.S. CDC published Travel Health Advisories for the Americas, which include vaccine recommendations for international visitors.