The government has stepped up efforts to expand vaccination services and boost public confidence in immunisation as part of a broader push to protect public health and promote community wellbeing.
The initiative is being implemented by the Ministry of Health Tanzania through its Preventive Services Department and the National Immunisation Programme, in collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG) and development partners in the health sector.
Speaking in Arusha on February 20, 2026, National Immunisation Programme Officer Lotalis Gadau said the government is prioritising vaccination as a key pillar of disease prevention, with renewed emphasis on public awareness, education and community engagement.
She was addressing a working session to finalise a draft Communication and Public Education Strategy on Immunisation Services.
Gadau said the strategy is central to increasing public understanding of vaccines, addressing fear and misinformation, and encouraging more people to use immunisation services.
She said clear and consistent communication helps to build trust in the health system, supports positive behaviour change and ensures that even hard-to-reach communities are reached through trusted platforms such as radio programmes, community meetings and community health workers.
She said the strategy will enable citizens to access accurate information on the types and importance of vaccines while reducing rumours, misconceptions and doubts that often undermine vaccination efforts.
Gadau added that the Ministry of Health carries a national responsibility to strengthen immunisation services by developing policies, guidelines and strategies, coordinating the National Immunisation Programme, monitoring vaccine safety including adverse events following immunisation, and building the capacity of health workers to communicate effectively with communities.
PMO-RALG immunisation supervisor Rosalia Arope said the office plays a critical role in translating national policies into action at grassroots level.
She said PMO-RALG oversees the implementation of vaccination services in regions and local government authorities, coordinates services at regional and district levels, mobilises local leaders and facilitates community meetings and outreach campaigns.
Through this structure, she said, PMO-RALG ensures that immunisation messages reach citizens directly and are reflected in improved service uptake at community level.
UNICEF social and behaviour change coordinator Alice Ijumba said UNICEF continues to support Tanzania’s immunisation programme through financial and technical assistance.
She said the agency also supports the development of community-centred communication approaches, including social and behaviour change communication and risk communication, and conducts research to understand the causes of vaccine hesitancy in some communities.
Stakeholders said the strengthened collaboration is expected to improve public trust, counter misinformation and ensure that vaccination services reach all segments of the population, in line with national public health priorities.