The World Health Organization (WHO) says that the global vaccine drives of the second half of the 20th century are one of humanity’s greatest achievements.
Immunization campaigns WHO said have enabled us to eradicate smallpox, nearly defeat polio, and ensure more children survive and thrive than ever before.
WHO office made the claim in a statement shared on its website announcing world immunization week 2024.
For instance, it said this year World Immunization Week will celebrate 50 years of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI).
Also, “EPI recognizes our collective efforts to save and improve countless lives from vaccine-preventable diseases.”
Additionally, WHO has called on countries to ramp up investments in immunization programmes to protect the next generations.
“In just 5 decades we went from a world where the death of a child was something many parents feared, to a world where every child if vaccinated has a chance to survive and thrive.”
Again it said that at its inception in 1974, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) focused on protecting all children against 6 childhood illnesses.
This number however, has grown to 13 universally recommended vaccines across the lifecourse and 17 additional vaccines with context dependent recommendations.
The Essential Programme on Immunization encompasses the expansion of vaccination programme across the life course.
Moreso, In the last few years during the pandemic, progress on immunization slipped.
While more than 4 million children were vaccinated globally in 2022 compared to 2021, there were still 20 million children who missed out on one or more of their vaccines.
It observed that growing conflicts, economic downturns, and a rise in vaccine hesitancy are some of the threats to efforts to reach these children.
As a result, the world is seeing sudden outbreaks of diphtheria and measles diseases that, until now, we’d had nearly in hand.
While global vaccine coverage is good with 4 out of 5 kids fully covered we have more to do.
“We can make it possible for everyone to benefit from the life-saving power of vaccines,” WHO assured.
‘Let’s make this possible by ensuring vaccines are high on the priority list for governments in all countries.”
Meanwhile, other ways identified include advocating for vaccines to be an integral part of the planning and investment of health care across the life course.
Making sure vaccination programmes are adequately financed and resourced in all countries.
Accelerating research and innovation that advances access to, and support for, vaccines.
Speaking out on the impact of locally, nationally and vaccinations globally.