✨ [SPECIAL EDITION] Your Monthly Booster Newsletter ~ December 2024

Published on December 19, 2024

December 2024

Every month, we deliver the latest Boost Community news directly to your inbox to keep you informed about various initiatives, programs, and opportunities.

You don't want to miss any of the amazing things that your fellow Boost Community members have accomplished this year!

Member Spotlights in 2024

Thank you to all our Boost Community members for sharing their stories and work with us. We look forward to connecting in the New Year to continue highlighting the impact you are making in the immunization space!

View Member Spotlights
 

2023 - 2024 COVID-19 Recovery for Routine Immunization Programs Fellowship

Our dynamic Fellows completed 50 final projects in more than 25 countries!

The Fellowship advanced impactful, scalable strategies for global immunization efforts that...

  • Demonstrated Effectiveness: Targeted training, mentorship, and funding enabled immunization professionals to address complex, localized challenges.​
  • Improved Vaccination Coverage: Significant local increases among zero-dose and under-immunized children.​
  • Incorporated Gender Approaches: Gender-intentional strategies successfully addressed barriers.​
  • Supported Data-Driven Interventions: Real-time data informed tailored and effective strategies.​
  • Enhanced Integration: Multi-sector partnerships integrated immunization efforts into broader health systems.

From these reports, we documented over 22,000 individuals vaccinated and 50,000 vaccine doses administered by Fellows and their colleagues. To read more about our Fellows' impact, check out some photos from the field and our most recent blogs. Additional stories will be shared next year - please stay tuned!

Read More
 

2024 Advanced Community Activation Training 2024

Congratulations to our 2024 ACAT Cohort!

Advanced Community Activation Training (ACAT) is an intensive, LIVE virtual course designed to develop and deepen leadership skills for advocacy and organizing. This training employs several techniques to create a robust learning environment: experiential learningweekly virtual group sessionsand a final capstone project.

Our 2024 cohort consisted of ten teams of four to five immunization professionals from Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guinea, India, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

For the final capstone project centered around community activation sessions within their own communities:

  • Team India focused its discussion among both experienced professionals and newcomers to the field on managing public narrative, relationship-building, and strategizing.
  • Team Ethiopia analyzed a previous campaign that had run in the area through a community-activation lens and discussed strategies to enhance immunization demand.
  • Team Nigeria focused a section of its meeting on managing vaccine misinformation and noticed a real sense of responsibility among its participants to engage the community and scale-up operations in their area.
  • Team Pakistan developed the slogan “Kids are yours; care is ours” to anchor its conversation about reaching under-immunized and zero-dose children.
  • Team Cote D’Ivoire looped in local NGOs and women’s associations to discuss how best to reach zero-dose children.
  • Team Guinea set a goal of vaccinating all children they could in their region by December 2024.
  • Team Madagascar integrated ACAT learnings during their monthly review of the Vondrozo District.
  • Team Burkina Faso centered its capstone session on achieving vaccination coverage among displaced populations.
  • Team Niger emphasized the Boost Community’s work on spreading the word about community activation.

Some feedback we heard from this Cohort includes:

"It was great learning experience of leadership and community organization skills and its practical implementation through the capstone project was a unique experience." ​

"This experience will enhance our collaboration and relationship within EPI programme and will promote open communication and mutual respect. This experience enhanced our confidence to advocate for improvement in immunization programme.​"

 

Coming February 2025!

We're launching a groundbreaking series to explore the crucial intersection of climate change and immunization.

Here's what to expect:

  • Uncover the impact of climate change on vaccine effectiveness and distribution
  • Map key stakeholders in the climate-immunization landscape
  • Dive into country-specific challenges and solutions.

Climate change is reshaping disease patterns and threatening vaccine supplies. Let's work together to build resilient immunization systems for a changing world!

Registration will launch on Monday, January 13. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the solution!

 

As we approach the end of another impactful year, we want to take a moment to reflect on the incredible strides you have made in advancing immunization efforts and health equity globally. Your dedication to ensuring that every child, every family, and every community has access to life-saving vaccines has been nothing short of inspiring.

This year has shown us the power of collaboration, innovation, and resilience. From addressing challenges in vaccine delivery to leveraging data for better decision-making, your contributions have made a tangible difference in the lives of countless individuals. You are the heart of this global movement, and your unwavering commitment fuels hope for a healthier, more equitable world.

As we prepare for the opportunities and challenges of the year ahead, let us carry forward the lessons we’ve learned, the partnerships we’ve strengthened, and the communities we’ve touched. Together, we will continue to break barriers, uplift each other, and reach those who are still waiting for the promise of immunization.

To our amazing donors and partners, your generosity and support is enabling us to protect the health of children and communities around the world. Because of you, thousands of lives have been saved, and countless children are now immunized against deadly diseases.

To our members, thank you for being a vital part of the Boost Community. We are deeply grateful for your resilience, strength, and dedication. Your presence and active participation in our courses have made all the difference. Together, we've created a vibrant, supportive space that inspires growth and connection and we look forward to growing together in 2025.🙏

Wishing you a season of rest, reflection, and renewal—and a new year filled with hope, health, and transformation.

 

Be sure to check out our Boost Community calendar for more upcoming events!