Irtiqa Imini Pishgiri Masdumiyat (Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention)

Abstract

Vaccination is one of the most effective and cost-effective public health interventions for preventing infectious diseases, reducing disability and mortality, and promoting sustainable population health. Its importance becomes even greater during armed conflicts, when mass population displacement, disruption of healthcare services, destruction of health infrastructure, insecurity, resource shortages, and limited access to affected areas can substantially reduce vaccination coverage and create conditions conducive to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. Moreover, vaccination provides not only direct protection to vaccinated children but also contributes to herd immunity, thereby protecting vulnerable children who cannot receive vaccines for medical reasons. Vaccination should therefore be regarded not merely as an individual medical intervention but as a collective social responsibility and a fundamental strategy for population survival. According to 2025 data, although a large proportion of children worldwide received essential vaccines, millions of children remained completely unvaccinated, with a substantial proportion living in politically unstable, conflict-affected, and underserved areas. In such settings, reaching every child, maintaining immunization services, addressing misinformation, and rebuilding public trust in health systems are essential priorities. The continued implementation of childhood vaccination programs in Iran during wartime demonstrates the importance of health-system preparedness and resilience in maintaining essential preventive services. Ensuring uninterrupted childhood vaccination during armed conflicts should therefore be considered an integral component of public safety, disease prevention, and protection of future generations.