Community health workers who vaccinate: improving immunization equity

Although global routine vaccination coverage has increased by over 80% over the last 40 years, it has recently lost momentum, with global coverage decreasing from 86% in 2019 to 81% in 2021. Many individuals still do not have access to routine immunizations, including an estimated 25 million infants each year. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine immunization services, exacerbating inequities especially in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). A large shortage of health workers, who are needed to administer immunizations, has further hindered routine immunizations in LMICs.