Celebrate Vaccines is the British Society for Immunology's campaign to champion the critical role of vaccination and vaccine research in advancing global health. The expert voice of the immunology community is a vital part of this message, and we have been working to strengthen public understanding of vaccination and to help everyone make informed decisions about vaccines and their children's health.
Ways to get involved
Use the #CelebrateVaccines hashtag on social media, and tag us on X, Bluesky, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
Learn and share reliable information
- How to discuss vaccines with the public
- Guide to childhood vaccination
- Guide to vaccinations during pregnancy
- Guide to vaccines for adults over 65
- Our infographics explaining how vaccines work
- Our short animations
- Our vaccine public engagement activity packs
Explore and share our blogs and resources highlighting the impact of vaccines:
- Celebrate Vaccines: How the HPV vaccine has transformed cervical cancer prevention
- Celebrate Vaccines: The legacy of the tetanus vaccine
- Celebrate Vaccines: How the RSV vaccine prevents severe illness in infants and older adults
- Celebrate Vaccines: Polio's journey from devastation to near eradication
Background
Why celebrate vaccines?
Vaccines are an important success story for immunology, and vaccination programmes remain a central part of global public health initiatives.
With over 5,000 members around the globe, the BSI represents the voice of researchers who work on vaccines as well as the wider immunology community. Through our Celebrate Vaccines initiative, we aim to highlight the vital contribution of vaccines to health, showcase the science behind immunisation, and support informed conversations about vaccination.
We also recognise the importance of global partnerships that expand access to vaccines, including organisations such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which works to protect vulnerable children around the world from preventable infectious diseases.
Aims of Celebrate Vaccines
- Strengthen the understanding of vaccine immunology among a wide audience, helping the public in making informed decisions about their children’s health
- Showcase the benefits of vaccine research in advancing global public health
- Provide an opportunity for BSI members to share their passion for immunology research successes and celebrate vaccine research
- Target diverse audiences across the UK
We are calling on you to Celebrate Vaccines with us and to help highlight the role that researchers play on an international stage.
Key moments to #CelebrateVaccines
Vaccine Engagement Day
Led by the BSI, Vaccine Engagement Day is dedicated to promoting understanding of vaccines and the science behind immunisation. It takes place in late March and through blogs, social media activity and public resources, the day highlights how vaccines protect individuals and communities, and showcases the researchers working to advance vaccine science.
World Immunisation Week
Organised by the World Health Organization, World Immunisation Week takes place annually in the last week of April. The campaign promotes the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease and highlights the life-saving impact of immunisation worldwide.
International Day of Immunology & Celebrate Vaccines report
Marked every year on 29 April, International Day of Immunology celebrates the vital role of immunology in protecting health and combating disease. It raises public awareness of how the immune system works and the importance of research in developing vaccines and treatments.
World Primary Immunodeficiencies Week
Coordinated by the International Patient Organisation for Primary Immunodeficiencies, this awareness week takes place each year in late April. It highlights primary immunodeficiencies, a group of conditions in which part of the immune system is missing or does not function properly, and emphasises the role of vaccination in protecting vulnerable individuals and their communities.