By Rosa Norman, Vice President of Communications and Advocacy
Shot@Life champions representing Georgia head to Capitol Hill to meet with their representatives to advocate for global childhood immunizations, Feb. 27, 2024. As this year’s World Immunization Week draws to a close, I'm reflecting on my experience as a United Nations (UN) Foundation Shot@Life champion during the 2024 Advocate to Vaccinate Spring Summit in Washington, D.C. From Feb. 25–28, I had the privilege of joining three other passionate Shot@Life champions from the Atlanta area, along with 100 more from across the U.S, on a mission to advocate for global childhood vaccinations.
Shot@Life, a U.S. grassroots advocacy campaign of the UN Foundation, works tirelessly to ensure that all children, regardless of where they live, have access to life-saving vaccines. As a mother, I cannot fathom the pain of watching a child suffer needlessly from a preventable disease. Yet, the reality is stark: each year, more than five million children die of such diseases before their fifth birthday. Most of these deaths are treatable or preventable through vaccination. Diseases like measles, polio and diphtheria are reemerging in parts of the world where they have not been seen in decades, reminding us of the urgency of our cause.
The summit brought together respected global leaders and advocates, including global health expert Dr. Peter Hotez, President of the Better World Campaign and Senior Vice President at the UN Foundation Peter Yeo, and representatives from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
We dedicated one day of the summit on Capitol Hill meeting with our representatives in Congress, urging them to prioritize funding for global immunization programs. Georgia champions met with representatives from the offices of Rep. Andrew Clyde (R), GA-9, Rep. Nikema Williams (D), GA-5, Rep. Hank Johnson (D), GA-4, and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) and Sen. Jon Ossoff (D). It was a day filled with hope and determination as we shared stories of the children whose lives could be saved through access to vaccines. The response from our policymakers was encouraging, reaffirming their commitment to supporting global health initiatives, while reaffirming our belief in the power of advocacy to drive meaningful change.
During the summit, champions also watched the documentary "Polio's Last Mile, a Virtual Reality Experience Overview" by REM5 Studios. This immersive experience shed light on the front lines of the fight against polio, inspiring us to rally behind efforts to eradicate this debilitating disease.
Beyond the invaluable insights I gained from my experience, what I enjoyed most was the camaraderie among like-minded individuals passionate about the same cause. We forged new friendships, and strengthened bonds as we united in our shared mission to champion the cause of global immunization and pave the way for a healthier, more equitable world.
Now, months later, I am still filled with gratitude for the opportunity to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. In the words of the famous anthropologist Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
Let's continue to champion the cause of global immunization and ensure that every child receives the shot at life they deserve.
To learn how you can become a Shot@Life champion, visit shotatlife.org.
Shot@Life, a U.S. grassroots advocacy campaign of the UN Foundation, works tirelessly to ensure that all children, regardless of where they live, have access to life-saving vaccines. As a mother, I cannot fathom the pain of watching a child suffer needlessly from a preventable disease. Yet, the reality is stark: each year, more than five million children die of such diseases before their fifth birthday. Most of these deaths are treatable or preventable through vaccination. Diseases like measles, polio and diphtheria are reemerging in parts of the world where they have not been seen in decades, reminding us of the urgency of our cause.
The summit brought together respected global leaders and advocates, including global health expert Dr. Peter Hotez, President of the Better World Campaign and Senior Vice President at the UN Foundation Peter Yeo, and representatives from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
We dedicated one day of the summit on Capitol Hill meeting with our representatives in Congress, urging them to prioritize funding for global immunization programs. Georgia champions met with representatives from the offices of Rep. Andrew Clyde (R), GA-9, Rep. Nikema Williams (D), GA-5, Rep. Hank Johnson (D), GA-4, and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) and Sen. Jon Ossoff (D). It was a day filled with hope and determination as we shared stories of the children whose lives could be saved through access to vaccines. The response from our policymakers was encouraging, reaffirming their commitment to supporting global health initiatives, while reaffirming our belief in the power of advocacy to drive meaningful change.
During the summit, champions also watched the documentary "Polio's Last Mile, a Virtual Reality Experience Overview" by REM5 Studios. This immersive experience shed light on the front lines of the fight against polio, inspiring us to rally behind efforts to eradicate this debilitating disease.
Beyond the invaluable insights I gained from my experience, what I enjoyed most was the camaraderie among like-minded individuals passionate about the same cause. We forged new friendships, and strengthened bonds as we united in our shared mission to champion the cause of global immunization and pave the way for a healthier, more equitable world.
Now, months later, I am still filled with gratitude for the opportunity to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. In the words of the famous anthropologist Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
Let's continue to champion the cause of global immunization and ensure that every child receives the shot at life they deserve.
To learn how you can become a Shot@Life champion, visit shotatlife.org.
Shot@Life champions at the 2024 Advocate to Vaccinate Spring Summit in Washington, D.C. Photo/UN Foundation
