World Immunization Week2026 · Date · History
WHO currently observes World Immunization Week on 24–30 April. The first global week was held across all six WHO regions in April 2012, followed by World Health Assembly resolution WHA65.18 on 26 May 2012 requesting Member States to designate the last week of April where appropriate.
About World Immunization Week
World Immunization Week is a World Health Organization global public-health campaign held from April 24 to April 30. It focuses on immunization awareness and access.
WHO’s 2026 campaign again used the April 24–30 dates, making the window safe to carry forward as the current fixed annual observance unless WHO changes it.
Why World Immunization Week matters
The week is a global public-health campaign rather than a source of individualized medical advice.
Questions about a person’s vaccine schedule, contraindications, pregnancy, immune status, side effects or missed doses should be handled through qualified local health professionals and official local immunization guidance.
History of World Immunization Week
World Health Assembly resolution WHA65.18 records that vaccination-week initiatives were observed simultaneously in all six WHO regions in April 2012.
The resolution, adopted on May 26, 2012, asked Member States to designate the last week of April as World Immunization Week where appropriate and asked the WHO Director-General to support annual implementation.
WHO’s current campaign page uses April 24–30 and lists the 2026 edition on those dates.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
World Health Assembly
World Health Assembly Resolution WHA65.18 — World Immunization Week
First documented observance
WHA65.18 records simultaneous vaccination-week observance in all six WHO regions in April 2012; WHO campaign archives list World Immunization Week 2012.
World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO maintains the current global campaign page and target-year campaign materials.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
World Immunization Day
How to Observe World Immunization Week
Use WHO and your national or local public-health authority for current immunization information.
Check your own records with an appropriate health service rather than inferring what vaccines you personally need from a general campaign page.
Share verified public-health information without exposing another person’s vaccination or medical status.
If you have questions about contraindications, timing, pregnancy, immune conditions or adverse reactions, ask a qualified clinician or vaccination service.
Use the target-year WHO page for the current theme and campaign resources.
World Immunization Week Facts
WHO currently marks World Immunization Week from April 24 to April 30.
The first global week was observed across all six WHO regions in April 2012.
World Health Assembly resolution WHA65.18 was adopted on May 26, 2012.
WHA65.18 asked Member States to designate the last week of April where appropriate and asked WHO leadership to support annual implementation.
The 2026 WHO campaign ran April 24–30.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Health Information Not Medical Advice.
- Confirm the date again before carrying it into a new year.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
World Health Assembly — Resolution WHA65.18 (opens in a new tab)
Institutional Resolution
WHO — World Immunization Week (opens in a new tab)
Dedicated Authoritative Page
WHO — World Immunization Week 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Current Authoritative Event
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is World Immunization Week?
24–30 April The documented recurrence rule is: 24–30 April.
Does World Immunization Week fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is World Immunization Week an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: World Health Organization global public-health campaign. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes World Immunization Week?
The reviewed sources identify World Health Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as World Health Organization (WHO).
Is World Immunization Week international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: World Health Organization global public-health campaign. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-06.
When is World Immunization Week?
WHO currently observes it from April 24 through April 30.
When did World Immunization Week become global?
WHA65.18 records simultaneous observance across all six WHO regions in April 2012.
What did the World Health Assembly do in 2012?
On May 26, 2012, WHA65.18 asked Member States to designate the last week of April as World Immunization Week where appropriate and asked WHO leadership to support annual implementation.
Is the date different every year?
WHO’s current campaign uses the fixed April 24–30 window; the target-year WHO page should still be checked for current themes and resources.
Can this guide tell me which vaccines I personally need?
No. Individual vaccine decisions should use qualified local health professionals and official local immunization guidance.