By Dr Lucy Jessop, Director, National Immunisation Office
As we celebrate World Immunisation Week, this year’s theme called #HumanlyPossible makes us reflect. As a public health doctor and the Director of Ireland’s National Immunisation Office, the theme is very personal to me. This year we aren’t just looking at the global picture, we are also celebrating twenty years of Ireland’s national immunisation programme. This journey started quietly but has been strong and steady since 2005.
Vaccines have been so effective that many people can’t even picture the fear that diseases like polio, measles, or rubella once caused. I’ve talked to parents who remember keeping children home from school during outbreaks, or who sadly lost siblings to illnesses that vaccines now prevent. Today, those stories are rare, showing the real strength of prevention.
However, with success comes forgetfulness. The tragic death from measles in Ireland last year was a wake-up call for people of how serious these diseases can be, even in a country with generally high vaccination rates and a good healthcare system. That’s part of our challenge today, our success makes it harder to remember why vaccines matter.
That’s why we started the “Then & Now: The Power of Vaccines” campaign this year. We want people to see the stories behind the numbers, to remind them of how far we’ve come and why we must not take our progress for granted. Whether it’s wiping out rubella or the high numbers of HPV vaccinations bringing us closer to ending cervical cancer, the effects are very real and touch every family in Ireland.
We also want to thank the many professionals, GPs, general practice nurses, public health nurses, pharmacists, school immunisation teams, and all those working across immunisation services who make this possible day after day, year after year. Their hard work often goes unnoticed, but they are the backbone of our public health system.
Our new Strategic Plan for 2024-2027 builds on this strong base. We see clear warning signs: childhood vaccine numbers are dropping and in some areas, hesitancy and access issues are growing. This isn’t just an issue for Ireland, but we are taking it very seriously. We are partnering more, improving our data systems, and really listening to communities to understand what’s holding people back.
Equity is at the heart of our work. It’s not enough to have a national programme; it must reach everyone. That means making it easier for marginalised groups, offering clear and culturally appropriate information, and continuing to be present in schools, communities, and online where trust grows.
We’re also broadening our reach. Vaccines aren’t just for children. Pregnant women, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, and newcomers to Ireland also need protection.
At the core of our work is a simple goal: that everyone in Ireland can live without fear of the potentially serious diseases we can prevent with vaccines. This isn’t just a catchphrase, I truly believe it’s possible because I’ve seen it happen, little by little, over the last two decades.
Getting vaccinated is not just a medical choice, it’s a group effort for our future. When you vaccinate your child, get your flu vaccine, or talk to a friend about the HPV vaccine, you become part of something bigger. You help protect those who can’t get vaccinated and others who are more vulnerable.
So this week, I invite everyone to take a moment to reflect. If you haven’t checked your vaccine status, do so. If you’re unsure, ask your GP or pharmacist. And if you’ve already protected yourself and your family, thank you.
Because what’s humanly possible is not just prevention. It’s standing together. It’s fairness and it’s progress.
Dr Lucy Jessop is Director of the National Immunisation Office and a Consultant in Public Health Medicine. She leads Ireland’s national vaccination strategy and has worked for over 20 years in immunisation, disease prevention, and public and child health in the UK and Ireland
A new range of materials have been developed to support this campaign.
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For more information, visit www.immunisation.ie