IRC Partners with Yemen to Combat Vaccine Hesitancy Amid Health Crisis

Aden, Yemen, July 10, 2025 — The International Rescue Committee (IRC), in collaboration with Yemen's Ministry of Public Health and Population, has unveiled a comprehensive strategy aimed at enhancing childhood vaccination rates across vulnerable communities in Yemen. This initiative comes as the country grapples with a significant increase in preventable diseases, notably measles and polio, exacerbated by a decade of ongoing conflict and public health crises.

Vaccination coverage in Yemen has plummeted, with less than 40% of children aged 12–23 months receiving complete immunizations. Alarmingly, 17% of these children have never received a single vaccine. The dire situation has led to the reporting of 237 polio cases since 2021 and over 50,000 measles cases in 2023 alone (World Health Organization, 2023).

The IRC's new Behavior Change Strategy seeks to overcome prevailing barriers to vaccination, including widespread misinformation and distrust in the healthcare system. According to Caroline Sekyewa, Country Director for the IRC in Yemen, “The launch of this strategy comes at a critical moment. Mistrust and misinformation are costing lives. Communities are asking for safe, respectful, and accessible care.”

The strategy encompasses several key components: enhancing clinic services, improving cleanliness and accessibility, training healthcare workers to provide respectful care, and engaging local community leaders to disseminate accurate information about vaccines. The IRC will also deploy mobile vaccination teams to reach remote areas and utilize local media campaigns to raise awareness.

Support for this initiative is provided by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which has committed to bolster Yemen’s public health infrastructure amidst its ongoing humanitarian crisis. Mesfin Teklu Tessema, Head of the IRC’s Health Unit, emphasized the importance of continued support for immunization efforts in fragile contexts. “To date, Gavi support has allowed the IRC and our local partners to deliver more than 14 million vaccine doses and reach over 1.4 million children living in conflict and crisis with their first-ever vaccinations,” he stated.

The IRC has been operational in Yemen since 2012 and has expanded its efforts significantly since 2015 in response to escalating humanitarian needs. Its programs include health services, nutrition support, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) initiatives, with a particular focus on women and children. Between 2022 and 2024, the IRC reached over five million individuals across 11 crisis-affected governorates, with a profound commitment to building resilience in local communities.

As Yemen continues to face the repercussions of prolonged conflict, the IRC’s vaccination initiative presents a crucial step towards restoring public trust in healthcare systems and safeguarding the health of future generations. The IRC's efforts align with its broader mission of aiding those affected by conflict and crisis worldwide, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the necessary support to combat preventable diseases effectively.

For additional information about the IRC’s work and initiatives in Yemen, please visit www.rescue.org.

### Sources: 1. World Health Organization. (2023). Immunization Coverage in Yemen: Statistical Overview. 2. Caroline Sekyewa, Country Director, IRC Yemen. Interview, July 2025. 3. Mesfin Teklu Tessema, Head of Health Unit, IRC. Press Release, July 2025. 4. IRC Annual Report. (2024). Overview of Humanitarian Aid in Yemen. 5. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. (2025). Global Strategy for Immunization in Crisis Settings.