Worldwide, pneumonia takes the lives of more young children than any other disease – more than 100 every hour of every day. The single biggest cause of fatal pneumonia in childhood is preventable with a vaccine. Established in 2009, World Pneumonia Day is marked every year on November 12th to:

• Raise awareness about pneumonia, the world’s leading infectious killer of children under the age of 5
• Promote interventions to protect against, prevent, and treat pneumonia and highlight proven approaches and solutions in need of additional resources and attention
• Generate action, including continued donor investment, to combat pneumonia and other common, yet sometimes deadly, childhood diseases

Pneumonia is one of the leading causes of deaths in children under five years old despite being easily preventable and treatable. Although vaccines and other preventative efforts are decreasing the burden of the disease, much more work is still required. Those living in poor communities are at highest risk of pneumonia. Every child, regardless of where they are born, deserves access to lifesaving vaccines and medicines.