Vaccination Week in the Americas (VWA) 2026 will be recognised from April 25 to May 2, under the theme Your Decision Makes a Difference. Immunization for All. Barbados will begin activities from Friday, April 17, and they will run until Wednesday, April 29.

According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), this year’s campaign is once again aligned with the disease elimination initiative, which aims to accelerate the eradication of more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions by 2030 – 11 of which are vaccine-preventable diseases.

It also highlights vaccination as an essential strategy for achieving regional goals and avoiding critical setbacks such as the loss of measles elimination re-verification in the region. This poses a real threat to public health, making it urgent to close immunity gaps and prevent outbreaks in all countries.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness’ planned activities from April 17 to 29 are as follows:

• Friday, April 17 – Radio Programme ‘Vital Signs’: A public health nurse will discuss Vaccination Week in the Americas and the benefits of vaccines on STARCOM VOB at 6:15 p.m.
• Monday, April 20 – Morning Barbados interview with a public health nurse and peadiatrician, who will discuss vaccines, immunisations, and the significance of VWA.
• Tuesday, April 21 to Thursday, April 30 – Open days at various polyclinics 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.:
  • Tuesday, April 21 – Branford Taitt Polyclinic, Frederick Miller Polyclinic and St. Philip Polyclinic
  • Thursday, April 23 – Winston Scott Polyclinic
  • Friday, April 24 – Eunice Gibson Polyclinic
  • Monday, April 27 – David Thompson Health and Social Services Clinic, Maurice Byer Polyclinic, Edgar Cochrane Polyclinic and Randal Phillips Polyclinic
• Saturday, April 25 – Community Outreach and Engagement: Two major outreach events in the form of health fairs will be held at Emerald City Complex, Six Roads, St. Philip and Massy Car Park, Warrens, St. Michael from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  A cross section of polyclinic services, including immunisations will be on offer.
• Sunday, April 26 – Church service at St. Luke’s Anglican Church, in St. George, at 8:30 a.m.  
• Wednesday, April 29 – Training seminar for health care workers at 12:30 p.m. at the National Union of Public Workers’ Headquarters, Dalkeith, St. Michael. There will be a presentation of the National Measles Outbreak Plan and updates on the Introduction of the Hexavalent Vaccine and associated changes to the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Programme.

Immunisation is one of the most important advances in public health, states the Ministry of Health and Wellness, and is estimated to have saved more lives over the past 50 years than any other health intervention.

The current immunisation schedule of Barbados contains 14 antigens against the following diseases: Poliomyelitis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Meningitis and Pneumonia (Pneumococcus), Hepatitis B, Meningitis and Pneumonia (Haemophilus Influenza type B), Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Chicken Pox, Tuberculosis, HPV-related diseases and Influenza.

Author: Melissa Rollock

Published: April 10, 2026