Solomon Islands celebrates World Immunization Week at Honiara event

The Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has celebrated World Immunization Week 2025 at a powerful community event in Honiara. 

The gathering, staged at the HCC Youth Hub last week, brought together government officials, health development partners and healthcare workers to reaffirm their shared commitment to reaching every child, family and community in Solomon Islands with life-saving vaccines.

The event was opened by Mrs Pauline McNeil, MHMS Permanent Secretary, who underscored the vital role vaccines play in safeguarding public health. Mrs McNeil paid tribute to the science behind immunisation as well as the people who make vaccination possible: nurses, cold chain managers, logistics teams and outreach workers who ensure vaccines reach communities across Solomon Islands’ provinces.

In his keynote speech, Dr Paul Bosawai, Solomon Islands’ Health Minister, stressed that despite challenges ranging from geographic difficulties to limited infrastructure, Solomon Islands remains committed to achieving high immunisation coverage. He emphasised the need for continued vigilance amid global measles outbreaks and regional polio detections, while encouraging all sectors of society to advocate for full immunisation throughout the life course – from birth through to school age and beyond.

NCIRS applauds the Ministry’s leadership and vision and is proud to be part of Solomon Islands’ efforts to strengthen immunisation services – notably, through support for the successful rollout of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and the upcoming HPV Big Catch-up campaign.

Alongside partners including WHO, UNICEF and PATH, NCIRS supports the Solomon Islands MHMS and the management of the Essential Program on Immunization and broader immunisation system strengthening in the country, as part of an ongoing partnership with the Australian Government and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.