What does it take to encourage vulnerable communities in North Macedonia to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and seasonal influenza? Or to ensure that their children get the routine childhood vaccines they need to be protected from life-threatening diseases?

The answer is many things. But one thing is certain – North Macedonia’s health authorities want to make sure that access to information and vaccination is as easy as possible so no one is left behind as they prepare for winter amid concerns of a COVID-19 and influenza surge.

And so, this October, a caravan has travelled across the country, reaching 24 communities in cities and villages. These included people living in remote areas and vulnerable groups, such as older people. 

Under the slogan “Protected Together – Vaccines Work”, the information and vaccination caravan brought information on seasonal influenza, COVID-19 and all routine childhood vaccines and offered on-the-spot vaccination against COVID-19. 

Organizations behind this initiative included North Macedonia’s Ministry of Health, WHO and UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) in North Macedonia, with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

The caravan is a sequel of a similar event that took pla