Global Public Health Week Day 1 Events

Global Public Health Week 2026: Day 1 – Peaceful Societies, Healthy Populations – Monday, April 6th

Focus: Governance, human rights, and social determinants of health.

Public health depends on social cohesion, justice, and equitable institutions. This day highlights how inclusive governance, trust in public institutions, and respect for human rights create the conditions for population health and peace.

All events are free and open to global participants. Find the other events here: Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, and Day 5.

Statement on the Global Public Health Crisis of Military Aggression: In Defense of Health, Peace, and Democracy

The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) expresses its profound alarm and unequivocal condemnation of the escalating pattern of unilateral military aggressions by the United States government.

These actions, ranging from the recent military operation in Venezuela and airstrikes in Nigeria, to the devastating attacks on critical infrastructure in Yemen and continued strikes in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime, constitute a clear and systematic violation of international law.

Military Escalation and the Threat to Global Sovereignty

The WFPHA is deeply concerned that these interventions serve as a dangerous precursor to further escalations against Iran, which we already saw last year. We denounce the unprecedented threats of annexation and intervention directed toward Cuba, Colombia, Mexico, and Greenland.

Such rhetoric and action under the “Don-roe Doctrine” undermine the foundational principles of sovereignty and the UN Charter.

The Impact of War as a Public Health Catastrophe

Military actions in any form pose severe risks to public health systems, disrupt essential health services, and cause preventable suffering among people in vulnerable situations. These are not merely political acts; they are public health catastrophes that threaten the safety and well-being of global populations.

Our Call to Action: Protecting Health and Human Rights

The WFPHA calls for the following immediate measures:

• Immediate cessation of hostilities and the pursuit of diplomatic solutions.
• Protection of sovereignty by respecting the territorial integrity of all nations.
• Protection of civilian populations and critical health infrastructure.
• Adherence to international law and human rights.
• Safe passage for humanitarian assistance and medical supplies to conflict zones.
• Constructive dialogue among all parties to resolve differences peacefully.

Prioritizing Global Security and Health Equity

We urge the international community and relevant bodies to prioritize diplomatic engagement and peaceful resolution over geopolitical interests.

Public health organizations worldwide stand ready to support efforts that protect health systems. We must not allow the normalization of aggression to dismantle the global security architecture that protects human life. The health and well-being of civilian populations must remain paramount in any resolution to this crisis.

Protecting Our Future: Why the U.S. Childhood Vaccine Schedule Overhaul Risks Global Health

The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) has issued a critical statement regarding the announced changes to the United States childhood immunization schedule. Our message is clear: Children’s health is not a policy experiment.

Childhood immunization schedules are among the most rigorously tested and monitored public health interventions in history. Built on decades of scientific evidence and comprehensive safety surveillance, these schedules have saved millions of lives. Altering them without a transparent, evidence-based justification puts child health and public trust at serious risk.

The Hidden Costs of Disrupting Proven Immunization Schedules

Vaccines do more than protect individuals; they safeguard entire communities. Disrupting established schedules can lead to delayed vaccinations, renewed outbreaks of preventable diseases, and avoidable hospitalizations. History shows that even modest declines in coverage can lead to rapid, severe consequences for the global population.

The Looming Equity Crisis

The proposed overhaul will not affect all children equally. Those from low-income families, rural areas, and racial or ethnic minority communities will bear the heaviest burden. In the U.S., vaccination rates already show disparities; for example, data have historically demonstrated that children living below the federal poverty level often have lower vaccination coverage rates for key vaccines than those at or above it.

Professor Raman Bedi, President-elect of the WFPHA and Emeritus Professor at King’s College London, warns:

“I am profoundly concerned that these changes will disproportionately and negatively impact the marginalized and vulnerable. When public health policy wavers, it is always those with the least who suffer the most.”

Global Implications and the Erosion of Trust

U.S. immunization policy exerts a profound influence worldwide. Decisions made domestically shape international debates and impact vaccine confidence far beyond U.S. borders. Misinformation is currently running rampant, and policy changes that appear politicized risk fundamentally undermining confidence in vaccine safety.

As Professor Michael Moore, Chair of the WFPHA International Immunization Policy Taskforce, emphasizes: “Undermining proven vaccine schedules is not innovation—it is gambling with children’s lives.”

A Call to Prioritize Scientific Integrity

The WFPHA urges U.S. decision-makers to keep children’s health and equity at the center of immunization policy.

We can do this with three actions:

• Uphold Scientific Integrity: Policy must remain grounded in comprehensive safety surveillance.
• Protect Public Trust: Transparent justification is required for any change to established medical protocols.
• Focus on Equity: Ensure that policy changes do not widen existing health disparities.

The consequences of failure will be measured in preventable disease and shattered confidence; impacts that will fall most heavily on those already facing the most significant barriers to health. Once trust is weakened, restoration is painfully difficult and its children who pay the price.

Let’s prevent that.

Read the original call to action here.