ACHIEVEMENTS
Over the past decade, immunization programmes have added new and underused
vaccines to the original six – diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, polio, and
tuberculosis – given to young children. They include vaccines against hepatitis B,
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease, mumps, pneumococcal disease,
rotavirus, rubella, and – in countries where needed – yellow fever and Japanese
encephalitis
Immunization averts an estimated 2.5 million child deaths a year, but despite the
successes, millions of children in developing countries – almost 20% of all children
born every year – do not get the complete immunizations scheduled for their first
year of life.
BARRIERS TO INCREASE IMMUNIZATION
Reaching these children will require overcoming a number of critical barriers that have
slowed progress. A major barrier is the underlying weakness of the health system
in many developing countries. Another is the difficulty in delivering vaccines through
an infrastructure and logistical support system that is often overloaded. Yet another
is a lack of understanding about the importance of vaccines – especially among
the poorest populations – and a failure to actively demand access to immunization
services. The threat posed by false or unsubstantiated rumours about vaccine safety
is also a barrier to progress, as is the projected shortfall in funding needed to reach
the global immunization-related goals.
Efforts under way to overcome the barriers to expanded immunization include the
use of immunization campaigns and “outreach” operations that seek out population
groups not adequately covered by routine immunization programmes. In addition,
special initiatives, such as the Optimize project, have been launched to help countries
manage the growing complexity of immunization logistics (delivery and storage of
vaccines, for example) underpinning immunization activities.
STRATEGIES FOLLOWED TO PROMOTE IMMUNIZATION
The Reaching Every District (RED) strategy, launched in 2002, is designed to
strengthen immunization delivery at the district level, by encouraging district-level
immunization officials to adopt the principles of “good immunization practice”, such
as the identification and resolution of local problems, the organization of regular
outreach vaccine delivery services, and the involvement of communities in ensuring
adequate functioning of immunization services.
Another strategy aims to integrate immunization activities with other services
provided by the health system. Any contact that a health worker has with a child or mother at a health facility is also an opportunity to check immunization status and,
if need be, to administer vaccines. Conversely, a mobile team offering immunization
to a community can also distribute medicines, antimalarial bednets, and other health
commodities or interventions.
Community participation is a key factor in raising vaccine coverage. Creating
awareness of, and public demand for, the benefits of immunization is an essential
component of an active immunization programme. However, it is also important to
ensure that demand can be reliably met.
Over the past decade, immunization programmes have added new and underused
vaccines to the original six – diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, polio, and
tuberculosis – given to young children. They include vaccines against hepatitis B,
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease, mumps, pneumococcal disease,
rotavirus, rubella, and – in countries where needed – yellow fever and Japanese
encephalitis
Immunization averts an estimated 2.5 million child deaths a year, but despite the
successes, millions of children in developing countries – almost 20% of all children
born every year – do not get the complete immunizations scheduled for their first
year of life.
BARRIERS TO INCREASE IMMUNIZATION
Reaching these children will require overcoming a number of critical barriers that have
slowed progress. A major barrier is the underlying weakness of the health system
in many developing countries. Another is the difficulty in delivering vaccines through
an infrastructure and logistical support system that is often overloaded. Yet another
is a lack of understanding about the importance of vaccines – especially among
the poorest populations – and a failure to actively demand access to immunization
services. The threat posed by false or unsubstantiated rumours about vaccine safety
is also a barrier to progress, as is the projected shortfall in funding needed to reach
the global immunization-related goals.
Efforts under way to overcome the barriers to expanded immunization include the
use of immunization campaigns and “outreach” operations that seek out population
groups not adequately covered by routine immunization programmes. In addition,
special initiatives, such as the Optimize project, have been launched to help countries
manage the growing complexity of immunization logistics (delivery and storage of
vaccines, for example) underpinning immunization activities.
STRATEGIES FOLLOWED TO PROMOTE IMMUNIZATION
The Reaching Every District (RED) strategy, launched in 2002, is designed to
strengthen immunization delivery at the district level, by encouraging district-level
immunization officials to adopt the principles of “good immunization practice”, such
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| IMAGE PROMOTING IMMUNIZATION |
outreach vaccine delivery services, and the involvement of communities in ensuring
adequate functioning of immunization services.
Another strategy aims to integrate immunization activities with other services
provided by the health system. Any contact that a health worker has with a child or mother at a health facility is also an opportunity to check immunization status and,
if need be, to administer vaccines. Conversely, a mobile team offering immunization
to a community can also distribute medicines, antimalarial bednets, and other health
commodities or interventions.
Community participation is a key factor in raising vaccine coverage. Creating
awareness of, and public demand for, the benefits of immunization is an essential
component of an active immunization programme. However, it is also important to
ensure that demand can be reliably met.
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