One Step Closer: Delivering Vaccines Where They’re Needed Most

The air in Grand Bassa County is thick with humidity, sticking like a second skin. It’s the end of November and this corner of Liberia is facing quietly the transition to the dry season. James, an assistant vaccinator from the Senyan Community Clinic, wipes sweat from his forehead as he presses forward. The journey through the dense greenery is slow, every step met with the resistance of the ground carrying the weight of recent rains. His motorbike could only take him so far.   

Today holds great significance: a measles follow-up campaign is reaching families in Senyan, one of Liberia’s hardest-to-reach communities. Vaccinators like James travelled across rough terrain to reach children with vaccines. The campaign aims to close immunization gaps across the country’s remote areas. On the other end of the journey there are children like Selvester, and mothers like Marie.   

Senyan thrives in harmony with nature yet faces considerable challenges. Here beauty creates barriers rather than pathways, and for local families each journey to a health centre is a test of resilience. When the rain comes, the roads turn to rivers. Then comes harvest season, and the clinic slips further out of reach.   

For Marie, a 32-year-old mother of two, the new campaign was nothing less than a blessing. The distance to the nearest health clinic has always been a challenge. Marie’s youngest son, Selvester, received his first measles vaccine at nine months, but the second dose, due at 15 months, slipped through the cracks of their demanding lives. Like many mothers in hard-to-reach areas, Marie has faced the constant worry of her children falling ill to preventable diseases.  “I know vaccines are helpful to prevent disease,” she says, her voice gentle but firm. “But during the rainy season or harvest time, it’s not easy to get to the clinic.”  Now she patiently sits beneath the shade of a palaver hut, cradling her youngest, Selvester.  When the moment arrives, it all happens in seconds: the click of a vial, the whisper of alcohol on skin, the sharp precision of the needle. Just like that, Selvester is protected.  

For James the campaign is a logistical triumph. “Some communities are hours away by motorbike, and that’s if the roads are dry,” he explains. “For families, it’s hard to come to us, and for us, it’s hard to reach them regularly. But this campaign made it happen.”    

Marie remembers the day vividly. “I feel very thankful for the opportunity for my child to get the vaccine, even though I missed taking him to the clinic before,” she says, cradling Selvester as he plays nearby. “They came to us, and now I know he’s protected.”    

The national campaign ran from November 25 to December 2 last year, aiming to bridge immunization gaps across Liberia’s 15 counties. Alwaleed Philanthropies' generous funding was instrumental in helping UNICEF support this initiative. 781,124 children were successfully vaccinated, including 78,514 children aged 9 to 59 months in some of Liberia’s hardest-to-reach areas, directly benefiting from Alwaleed Philanthropies' contribution. Their funding enabled the recruitment and training of specialized outreach teams, strengthening last-mile delivery efforts. This overall achievement was made possible through the collaboration of UNICEF, Liberia’s Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), County Health Teams (CHTs), and healthcare facilities.  

The initiative’s impact, however, is far more reaching: Marie has become an advocate in her community, sharing her story at the market and during gatherings. “I discuss with my friends about the benefits of vaccines, how they keep our children safe and away from diseases,” she says. “I am very proud that my children are fully vaccinated now. I know this will not only keep them healthy but help them be good students. A healthy child is one who can attend classes attentively.”     

Marie’s story is just one among many. As parents like her become vocal advocates for immunization, the ripple effects extend beyond health—reaching schools, communities, and future generations. Teachers like Mr. Kugben have witnessed this shift firsthand, seeing how healthier children translate into better school attendance and focus in the classroom: “As a teacher, I am concerned about the health of my students and their vaccination status,” he says. “Supports like this, in health and education, mean so much to us. I thank the government and UNICEF for reaching the most difficult areas to maximize service delivery.”    

Marie’s hope for her children is now a little brighter, she thinks of all the other mothers like her, mothers who won’t have to worry anymore and her voice shares a powerful message of strength and commitment: every child deserves a chance.. Through the collective efforts of communities, governments, and partners like UNICEF and Alwaleed Philanthropies, equity gaps are being bridged, one vaccine at a time.