World Immunization Week 2025 – One Shot, Two Lives: Advancing Maternal Immunization in Pakistan

Each year, World Immunization Week serves as a global reminder of the vital role vaccines play in saving lives. In Pakistan, where preventable maternal and neonatal deaths remain a persistent public health concern, the potential of maternal immunization to safeguard two lives with one intervention remains underleveraged.

Maternal immunization, the administration of specific vaccines during pregnancy, offers a unique and cost-effective opportunity to protect both the mother and her unborn child from life-threatening infections. When a pregnant woman is vaccinated, she passes protective antibodies to her baby, offering critical immunity during the early weeks of life, before the child is eligible for routine immunizations.

Pakistan’s Maternal and Newborn Health Landscape

Despite progress in expanding immunization coverage, Pakistan continues to report one of the highest neonatal mortality rates in South Asia, with over 140 newborn deaths every day, largely from preventable causes such as sepsis, pneumonia, and tetanus. Rural populations, low literacy rates, limited antenatal care uptake, and vaccine hesitancy further compound these risks.

Key Maternal Vaccines: Evidence and Impact

1. Maternal Tetanus Vaccine

Maternal and neonatal tetanus has been eliminated in 48 of 59 high-burden countries. However, Pakistan remains among the 12 countries still at risk, particularly in underserved districts where skilled birth attendance and clean delivery practices are inconsistent. The TT vaccine, administered during pregnancy, is a proven intervention that saves thousands of lives.

1. Influenza Vaccine

Pregnant women are more susceptible to severe influenza-related complications. Research indicates that maternal influenza vaccination can reduce infant hospitalizations by up to 72%. In Pakistan, where seasonal influenza surveillance and vaccine uptake among pregnant women remain low, targeted integration into antenatal care services is urgently needed.

1. RSV Vaccine

The recent introduction of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine marks a significant milestone in maternal immunization. RSV is a leading cause of lower respiratory infections in infants, often requiring hospitalization. Given Pakistan’s burden of pneumonia-related infant deaths, maternal RSV vaccination could serve as a critical preventive tool in areas with limited neonatal intensive care facilities.

Moving from Commitment to Implementation

To strengthen maternal immunization efforts in Pakistan, a strategic and multisectoral response is essential:

• Policy Integration: Align maternal vaccines with national immunization schedules and maternal health guidelines under the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) benefit package.
• Financing & Supply Chain Strengthening: Ensure sustainable procurement and uninterrupted supply of maternal vaccines, especially in remote and fragile districts.
• Community Engagement: Combat vaccine hesitancy through behavior change communication, involving religious leaders, midwives, and Lady Health Workers to address myths and promote trust.
• Monitoring & Evaluation: Improve data systems to track maternal vaccine coverage, safety, and outcomes, disaggregated by geography and socioeconomic status.

Every Dose Counts: A Public Health Imperative

Vaccinating a pregnant woman doesn’t just protect her, it provides her newborn with a head start at life. In a country where inequities in health access persist, maternal immunization offers a practical and scalable solution to reduce neonatal deaths and foster community-level immunity.

The theme of this year’s World Immunization Week—“Immunization for All is Humanly Possible”, reinforces our collective responsibility. By prioritizing maternal immunization within national health programs, Pakistan has the opportunity to protect two lives with every single dose administered.

The future of our children begins before birth. Let’s make maternal immunization a national priority—not just during World Immunization Week, but year-round.