UNICEF reports that children living in conflict-affected zones and those in remote, hard-to-reach regions are still missing routine vaccinations. The issue is raised through the experiences of Sagal and Johao, members of UNICEF’s Global Youth Health Advisory Group, who work to influence UNICEF strategies and campaigns while also engaging directly in their own countries. They describe meeting children who have never been vaccinated, despite efforts to expand immunization coverage. The report contrasts two settings—areas shaped by decades of armed conflict and political instability, and areas where distance and limited access make services harder to reach—while noting that both environments contribute to persistent gaps in vaccination.
Across the sources, the core message is that children in multiple high-risk contexts continue to face barriers to immunization, and that youth advisers are involved in addressing those barriers through participation in planning and implementation of health efforts. UNICEF’s engagement through its youth advisory group is presented as a way to support targeted outreach and improve vaccination reach for children who otherwise remain unserved.
