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It takes a remarkable, coordinated effort to immunize every child in a country over a matter of days or weeks. Every village and often, every household, must be mapped; thousands of health workers trained, every community engaged, and millions of doses of vaccine transported and kept cool – sometimes in places with no power. And yet, that’s exactly what dozens of countries did last year – including Laos, a county which until recently struggled with electricity and roads.

Impatient Optimists, the blog of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, highlights Laos’ efforts with partners in the Measles Initiative, to reach almost every child and adolescent with measles and rubella vaccine. The writer finds a long, but worthwhile journey in the effort to stop these diseases in Laos. Read the blog here.