The Power of Vaccines: 4 Ways PIH Protects Communities Worldwide
Learn how PIH uses vaccines to protect communities, advance global health.
Posted on Feb 3, 2025

Since the invention of the world’s first successful vaccine—against smallpox—in England over two centuries ago, the public health tool has prevented hundreds of millions of deaths—from HPV and polio to measles and COVID-19. As vaccine misinformation spreads and threatens public health, we must remember the facts: vaccines are rigorously researched and tested, they’re safe and effective, and they protect against more than 20 diseases.
Simply put, vaccines save lives.
At Partners In Health (PIH), immunization is one of the many ways we bring the benefits of modern medicine to those most in need.
Here are 4 ways vaccines save lives across countries where PIH works:
1. Vaccines protect children.
More than 13,000 children worldwide die every day from preventable or treatable conditions—many of which can be addressed with vaccines. At PIH, we work together with local governments and health clinics to protect children in vulnerable communities who often face an increased risk of infectious disease.
In 2023, PIH supported the administration of 664,645 childhood vaccinations, such as hepatitis B and measles vaccines, across seven countries: Haiti, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Peru, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone.

2. Vaccines curb disease outbreaks after natural disasters.
Hurricanes, floods, and mudslides can have severe health impacts on communities. Such disasters can damage water sanitation infrastructure and contaminate water, leading to outbreaks of cholera, a bacterial disease. Fortunately, cholera is preventable and treatable.
In Haiti, PIH conducted a cholera vaccination campaign after the 2010 earthquake that protected 50,000 people against the deadly disease. The campaign’s success motivated the World Health Organization (WHO) to establish a global stockpile of oral cholera vaccines and to change protocols that expanded patient access.
Later, in 2017, when severe flooding and mudslides threatened a cholera outbreak in Sierra Leone, this global stockpile became a lifesaving resource. PIH staff led a vaccination campaign in partnership with Sierra Leones's Ministry of Health, providing the necessary two doses of the cholera vaccine to 500,000 people.

3. Vaccines strengthen global health systems.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, PIH advocated for an increased global supply of vaccines and their equitable distribution to low- and middle-income countries, such as Haiti, Lesotho, and Malawi.
In the United States, PIH accompanied local health departments and community partners to establish vaccine rollout plans centered on equity and access; and created a vaccine toolkit with practical resources for achieving vaccine equity.

4. Vaccines prevent serious illness and death.
Recently, the first-ever vaccine for malaria, a mosquito-borne infectious disease, was approved by the WHO. In 2024, Sierra Leone became the third country to roll out the vaccine nationwide at PIH-supported Wellbody Clinic and other health facilities. At Wellbody Clinic, all babies who are at least six months old can receive a malaria vaccine during their regular appointments. This marks a significant step towards saving countless lives and reducing the burden of malaria on families, communities, and the health care system. In 2023, there were 597,000 malaria deaths around the world, a majority of which were among children under 5 in Africa.

If we don’t vaccinate the most poor and vulnerable communities, everyone will continue to be at risk. At PIH, we’re committed to enhancing vaccine access and strive to make health care a human right for all people, starting with those who need it most.