World Immunization Week 2025

World Health Assembly
19-27 May 2025

At this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA), the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is celebrating Madagascar’s success in closing its type 1 variant poliovirus outbreak.

Join us in celebrating this achievement and more from WHA by sharing the below content across your social media channels.

Relevant Handles and Hashtags

GPEI partners:

Primary Hashtags:

#EndPolio

#MakePolioHistory

#WHA78

Celebrate Madagascar's Polio Outbreak Closure

🎉 Victory for public health! Madagascar has closed its #polio outbreak after over a year with no new polio variant type 1 detections. Over 19 million people were vaccinated thanks to swift action by the government & the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. #VaccinesWork. [press release link]

🛡️ High population immunity

🔍 Strong surveillance

📉 12+ months poliovirus-free

Madagascar has met the criteria to declare its variant poliovirus type 1 outbreak closed. A major public health success! See how: [press release link]

🧡 “When we vaccinate, we give hope, strength, and a future.”

Meet Faratiana, a true #PolioFighter from Madagascar.

Thanks to heroes like her, Madagascar is #MakingPolioHistory. [insert graphic]

👊 “Polio fighter” Voahirana is one of the many heroes behind Madagascar’s success against #polio, as the country marks nearly 20 months without new detections. A simple dose got her protected! [insert graphic]

Andry lives with the effects of polio, but his voice helped prevent more children from facing the same.

“I didn’t want the stigma or the virus to shape the future of others.”

His advocacy efforts helped Madagascar #EndPolio.💪🏽[insert graphic]

A BIG thank you to @Rotary, @Gavi, @UNICEF, @WHO, & @GatesHealth for their unwavering support & collaboration in helping Madagascar successfully halt the spread of polio. Our commitment is making a lasting difference in the fight against the virus! [insert graphic]

Fy, a @UNICEF youth advocate from Madagascar, reminds us that vaccines don’t just save lives, they create brighter futures. Thanks to polio vaccines, millions of children can walk, play, and thrive. With continued commitment, we can protect every child and #EndPolio for good. [insert Fy interview]

Re-share UNICEF X or UNICEF LinkedIn: Congratulations to Madagascar for successfully closing its outbreak of variant polio, protecting children across the country from this devastating disease. Learn how the country came together to #EndPolio from youth advocate, Fy.

Re-share GPEI Leadership Posts:

Dr. Hanan Balkhy (Regional Director, WHO EMRO)
Dr. Hamid Jafari (Director of Polio Eradication, WHO EMRO)
Jamal Ahmed Guudle (Director of Polio Eradication, WHO)
Catherine Russell (Executive Director, UNICEF)
Etleva Kadilli (Regional Director, UNICEF ESARO)
Chris Elias (President of Global Development, Gates Foundation).

World Health Assembly

The #WHA78 “Outsmarting Outbreaks” side-event provided an important reminder that with continued investment in critical innovations we can #EndPolio and put a stop to all preventable diseases, delivering a healthier future for all. [insert side-event photos]

Congratulations to longstanding polio eradication champion Prof Helen Rees of @WitsRHI for receiving the 2025 Dr. Lee Jong-wook Memorial Prize for Public Health. This award recognizes her outstanding contributions to the field of global health and in the fight to #EndPolio.