World Pneumonia Day 2026

About World Pneumonia Day

World Pneumonia Day is observed every year on November 12 to raise awareness of pneumonia, a lung infection that remains one of the deadliest diseases for young children and older adults worldwide. The infection inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, filling them with fluid or pus, and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Because pneumonia is treatable and often preventable, the death toll is especially frustrating: most fatal cases occur in children under five and adults over sixty-five in low- and middle-income countries, often linked to gaps in vaccination, nutrition, and access to care.

The day was launched in 2009 by a coalition of global health organizations and is now supported by the Every Breath Counts coalition and UNICEF-led campaigns. Activities follow a protect, prevent, and treat framework: immunization, clean air and good nutrition, prompt diagnosis, and timely antibiotics and oxygen.

Recent observances have also connected pneumonia to air pollution and to respiratory-care lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When is World Pneumonia Day?

History of World Pneumonia Day

World Pneumonia Day was established in 2009 by the Global Coalition against Child Pneumonia, a partnership that included UNICEF, the World Health Organization, Save the Children, the GAVI Alliance, and academic and civic groups. The first observance drew attention to a stark figure: pneumonia was killing more young children each year than AIDS, malaria, and measles combined. In its early years the campaign pushed for the rollout of Hib and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in high-burden countries, contributing to measurable declines in child deaths. In 2019 the Every Breath Counts coalition formed to broaden the agenda across children and adults, and in 2020 the Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia issued a call to cut child pneumonia deaths. The day now supports Sustainable Development Goal 3 targets on child survival and highlights links between pneumonia and air quality, HIV, tuberculosis, and pandemic preparedness.

How to Celebrate World Pneumonia Day

• ✦ Check that your family's vaccinations are current, including flu, COVID-19, and pneumococcal shots where recommended.
• ✦ Learn pneumonia's warning signs, such as fast breathing, chest pain, high fever, and confusion, and know when to seek care.
• ✦ Improve indoor air by ventilating rooms, keeping smoking outdoors, and reducing cooking smoke.
• ✦ Donate to or volunteer with a child-health charity that funds vaccines, oxygen, and diagnosis in high-burden countries.
• ✦ Share one fact about pneumonia's impact on children under five with your network on November 12.