Joint note on means to protect health care from acts of violence in the COVID-19 vaccination rollout in fragile, conflict-affected and vulnerable settings

Overview

To ensure the provision of COVID-19 vaccines in fragile, conflict-affected and vulnerable settings is unhindered by any acts of violence or obstruction, ICRC, IFRC and WHO have issued a joint note outlining specific actions for consideration at the operational level. The aim of this publication is to facilitate the mainstreaming of prevention and protection, and to identify concrete actions to ensure the safe provision of vaccines in these contexts.

In particular, ICRC, IFRC and WHO call on policy makers, health workers and civil society to recognize the challenges posed by attacks on health care in the context of the COVID-19 vaccination rollouts in settings with widespread violence, armed actors, mistrust and other security risks.

Although this document focuses on challenges to the safe provision of COVID-19 vaccines, it is also relevant for other vaccination campaigns in FCV settings.