disaster
Validating Progress Towards Closing Immunity Gaps in South Sudan - Rapid Convenience Monitoring: Findings and Priority Actions
By World Health Organization at ReliefWeb
· June 23, 2026
· 1 min read
. Introduction The Big Catch-Up (BCU) initiative was implemented by the Ministry of Health of South Sudan, with support from WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and immunization partners, to identify and vaccinate children who missed routine immunization services and restore population immunity following disruptions
Key takeaway A Rapid Convenience Monitoring (RCM) survey conducted across 26 counties assessed vaccination uptake, caregiver awareness, accessibility of services, and barriers to vaccination among 2,354 children.
Why this matters
The initiative to close immunity gaps in South Sudan through the Big Catch-Up program has yielded notable progress, with a significant number of previously missed children now vaccinated. However, the Rapid Convenience Monitoring survey also reveals persistent challenges, including geographic inequities and documentation issues, which hinder efforts to ensure every child is protected. These findings are particularly relevant in the context of disaster relief and humanitarian efforts, where disruptions to health systems can have long-lasting consequences. The involvement of organizations such as WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi in supporting the Ministry of Health of South Sudan underscores the complexity and scale of the challenge. As the program moves forward, addressing these ongoing barriers will be crucial to sustaining progress and achieving equitable access to immunization services across the country. The success of this initiative will depend on targeted actions to overcome these challenges and ensure that all children, regardless of their location, have access to essential vaccination services.
About this story
Original reporting by ReliefWeb . Christgiving surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: disaster ·
Published: June 23, 2026 ·
Source: ReliefWeb ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? . Introduction The Big Catch-Up (BCU) initiative was implemented by the Ministry of Health of South Sudan, with support from WHO, UNICEF, Gavi, and immunization partners, to identify and vaccinate children who missed routine immunization services and restore population immunity following disruptions
When was this published? This article was first published on June 23, 2026 by ReliefWeb and curated for Christgiving readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by World Health Organization at ReliefWeb. To learn more about how Christgiving selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more disaster coverage from Christgiving, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .