Expanded Program on Immunization

Protect Your Child!
Malaria Vaccine gives stronger protection with every dose.

The malaria vaccine prevents severe malaria.

Take your child to the nearest health facility for each malaria vaccine dose. Completion of the dose ensures improved immunity and providing stronger protection against malaria.

Every dose matters!!

Protect your child by completing the full immunization schedule, including MR2 and Malaria Vaccine Dose 4.

Visit the nearest health facility to catch up on missed vaccines.

📢 New Publication Alert!

We are proud to share a new publication, "The 2025 Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Managers Meeting in West Africa: A Health Systems Analysis of a Decade of Stagnating Routine Immunization Performance."

The report features the contributions of Sierra Leone's EPI Program Manager, Dr. Desmond Maada Kangbai, and highlights critical insights on the state of immunization across West Africa.

The publication explores challenges affecting routine immunization, lessons learned following the COVID-19 pandemic, and practical recommendations to strengthen health systems and ensure every child is protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.

This recognition reflects Sierra Leone's continued commitment to advancing immunization and contributing to regional efforts to improve child health outcomes.

📖 Read the publication here: https://mdpi-res.com/d_attachment/vaccines/vaccines-14-00501/article_deploy/vaccines-14-00501.pdf?version=1780404273

mdpi-res.com

The Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) has commenced a two-day Supportive Supervision Orientation Workshop for National Supervisors at the Vanilla Complex, Aberdeen, aimed at strengthening supervisors with the required knowledge, coordination approaches, supervisory tools, and reporting procedures necessary for effective field implementation. The orientation also seeks to standardise supervision processes, improve monitoring of immunisation activities, identify gaps within service delivery, and enhance the quality of routine immunisation services across districts.

Following the orientation, National Supervisors are expected to proceed to their assigned districts for the implementation of the supportive supervision activities using a well-designed and standardised KoboCollect checklist to support uniform evaluations, facilitate real-time data collection, and guide on-site mentoring during field supervision. The activity demonstrates EPI’s continued commitment towards improving immunisation performance, strengthening health systems, and ensuring the delivery of quality immunisation services to communities.

Together we can strengthen our health services.

In line with ongoing efforts to strengthen immunization supply chains, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), Ministry of Health,Sierra Leone participated in the National Logistics Working Group Best Practice Global Sharing Workshop, which took place from 5th–7th May 2026 in Kigali, Rwanda.

The workshop brought together supply chain leaders and partners from Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ghana, and other countries to share practical experiences, strengthen coordination, and promote resilient and efficient national logistics systems.

EPI Sierra Leone values its participation in this important global platform and looks forward to leveraging the knowledge gained to further improve immunization supply chain performance and service delivery across the country.

The Expanded Programme on Immunization, Ministry of Health in collaboration with GINGER SOFRECO through the Sierra Leone Social Marketing and Development Agency, SLaDa, holds a Validation Workshop on Gender and Immunization Capacity Building Plan at New Sella Spot, Freetown.

The Plan targets the provision of a structured roadmap on gender optimization during immunization services. It focuses efforts for gender integration at every level of EPI operations; from policies to practice.

This transformative Capacity Building Plan comprises promotion of Gender Knowledge acquisition, strengthening organizational development, developing institutional and legal framework and training and supporting community empowerment.

We appreciate our partners for the support,

In line with the Government of Sierra Leone’s 300 Days of Activism for the Triple Zero Agenda, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), in collaboration with the Health Education Program, Directorate of Reproductive and Child Health, Directorate of Food and Nutrition and Directorate of Primary Health Care, and partners Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance,UNICEF Sierra Leone,convened a one-day Training of Trainers (ToT) on 5th May 2026 at the Vanilla Complex, Aberdeen. The training brought together national supervisors in preparation for the nationwide rollout of the Community Health Workers (CHWs) orientation across all 16 districts, with the aim of strengthening community-level systems that support routine immunization and primary health care services.

During the session, key areas of focus included the updated Routine Immunization schedule, identification and referral of zero-dose and defaulter children, effective use of the Maternal and Child Health Handbook, basic response to Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI), and strategies for addressing rumours and vaccine hesitancy within communities.

Community Health Workers remain central to bridging the gap between households and health facilities, and strengthening their capacity is critical to improving immunization uptake, reducing zero-dose children, and building trust in health services, ultimately contributing to the achievement of the Triple Zero targets and ensuring that no child or mother is left behind.

In commemoration of African Vaccination Week, the Expanded Programme on Immunization Ministry of Health ,in collaboration with FOCUS 1000,the Health Education Programme, and other partners, held a one-day engagement meeting with bloggers and media personalities on 30th April 2026.The meeting aimed to strengthen collaboration with digital and media stakeholders in the fight against zero-dose children in Sierra Leone. Discussions focused on increasing awareness of routine immunization, its schedule, and its critical role in protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Participants were also engaged on addressing misinformation and the important role bloggers and media personalities play in sharing accurate, evidence-based information within communities. By equipping them with the right knowledge and direct access to credible sources, the engagement seeks to improve public trust and counter rumors surrounding immunization.Together with our partners, we remain committed to ensuring every child is reached with life-saving vaccines and moving Sierra Leone closer to becoming a zero-dose free country.

The Ministry of Health,through the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in partnership with Last Mile Health, convened a One-Day Validation Workshop on the Community Health Worker (CHW) Malaria Vaccine Curriculum on 17th April 2026 at the New Brookfields Hotel Conference Hall. The session brought together key stakeholders and technical experts to review and strengthen the draft curriculum aimed at equipping CHWs with essential skills to support malaria vaccine uptake, community sensitization, defaulter tracing, and integration with routine immunization services.

Participants provided critical technical input and strategic guidance to ensure the curriculum is comprehensive, culturally appropriate, and ready for national rollout. The workshop marks an important step toward strengthening community health systems and improving malaria prevention efforts across Sierra Leone.

The Ministry of Health,through the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and the Health Education Programme, in collaboration with partners including the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society Today and FOCUS 1000,convened a One-Day Engagement on 16th April 2026 with Paramount Chiefs and traditional leaders under the Government’s 300 Days of Activism for the Triple Zero Agenda. The initiative aims to achieve zero preventable maternal deaths, zero preventable child deaths, and zero zero-dose children, with community leaders playing a key role in promoting immunization and positive health-seeking behaviors.

The engagement strengthened partnerships between the Ministry of Health , traditional leaders, and civil society, while updating participants on national health priorities. It also reinforced the role of community leaders in driving accountability and supporting efforts to close immunization gaps, improve service uptake, and ensure that every mother and child has access to essential healthcare services.

This work is made possible with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance