Close to 1.3 million people, from previously inaccessible areas of Tigray were reached with lifesaving COVID-19 vaccination following a two-phase campaign.

The first round of the vaccination campaign, which was conducted in January 2023 benefited more than 113,000 people in the towns of Wukro, AbiAdi, Adigrat, Maichew and Mehoni towns. Conducted in the months of February and March 2023, the second round of the campaign, on the other hand, benefited more than 1.2 million people from 64 previously inaccessible woredas of the region.

The vaccination campaign was crucial in closing the vaccination gap that was created in the region due to lack of access and logistical challenges during the two-year conflict in northern Ethiopia. 

The November 2022, the peace agreement and the resulting improved access into the region enabled the regional health bureau and partners to vaccinate internally displaced people (IDPs) and other vulnerable segments of the community against COVID-19. 
 
The vaccination campaign was led by the Tigray Regional Health Bureau with support from the Federal Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and other health partners. The Federal Ministry of Health, in close collaboration with the COVAX initiative, provided 1.6 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine in July 2022. 

WHO provided support for the pre-campaign activities including RCCE (Risk Communication Community Engagement), awareness creation through the media, religious leaders and elders.  

With support from GAVI and the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operation (EU ECHO), WHO supported the procurement and transport of vaccines, trained vaccinators, provided technical support during microplanning, and supportive supervision during implementation. 

“Together with other proven public health measures, vaccination is a key intervention in the control of COVID-19; hence we need to close the vaccination gap in Tigray,” said Mrs Marjorie Mupandare, Incident Manager of WHO’s health response in northern Ethiopia. “WHO was on the ground coordinating health cluster partners and providing technical support in the planning and execution of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign” said Dr Nonhlanhla Dlamini the acting WHO Country Representative.
 
“The Health Bureau is thankful to its partners for their support prior to and during this very important vaccination campaign to protect the people of Tigray against COVID-19,” said Dr Amanuel Haile of the Tigray Regional Health Bureau. “We remain committed to continue collaborating with our partners, whose support is crucial to the restoration of health facilities and rebuilding of the health system in Tigray to ensure the health and wellbeing of our people.”

WHO has been at the forefront of the humanitarian response in conflict-affected Tigray, Amhara and Afar for more than two years. The organization has deployed more than 65 international and national experts to the regions to provide technical support to regional health authorities and has delivered more than 380 metric tons of medicines, medical supplies, and equipment to the three conflict-affected regions since 2022 alone for health emergency response.