Vaccination: understanding the essential landmarks

What are we talking about?

Vaccination helps protect against certain infectious diseases by preparing the immune system. WHO recalls the role of vaccines in prevention at individual and collective scale.

Vaccination recommendations are defined by each country’s health authorities. This sheet does not publish a Malian immunisation schedule: an invented schedule or one extrapolated from another country would be incorrect.

What you may observe

Keep the vaccination record or any vaccination documentation. It helps professionals identify doses already received and possible catch-ups according to official recommendations.

For travel or expatriation, additional vaccinations may be discussed according to destination and vaccination status — without replacing the national schedule of residence.

• Keep the vaccination record / documentation
• National recommendations to verify
• Particular situations (travel, catch-up): professional advice

Good practices

Follow the applicable immunisation schedule according to the official recommendations of the country concerned (for Mali: Malian health authorities).

A catch-up is not decided alone: it is assessed according to official recommendations and vaccination history.

Ask for advice at the pharmacy or from a health professional to clarify next steps.

What to avoid

Avoid applying another country’s immunisation schedule in Mali without verification.

Avoid delaying a recommended vaccination without a documented medical reason.

Avoid relying only on unofficial lists found online.

When to ask the pharmacist?

The pharmacist can recall the value of vaccination documentation, guide toward competent facilities and answer general questions about vaccination within their competencies.

When to seek medical care?

Consult a health professional to establish or update vaccination status, especially for a child, a catch-up, pregnancy, a chronic condition or departure abroad.

Verify official recommendations with Mali’s health authorities or recognised vaccination facilities.