Each year, the World Health Organization (WHO) partakes in World Immunization Week, a period of reflection, raising awareness, and future planning surrounding global action required to combat vaccine-preventable illness.1
By Antonia Du Bois, MScReviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLM Each year, the World Health Organization partakes in World Immunization Week, a period of reflection, raising awareness, and future planning surrounding global action required to combat vaccine-preventable illness.1
The EPI began with a moderate portfolio of vaccinations for six childhood illnesses including diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.2,3 Building on fundamentals of health systems like governance, service delivery, information systems, vaccine formulation, and financing,5 this program has expanded to a total of thirteen vaccinations and includes older children and adults.
Challenges faced and overcome One of the primary challenges with large-scale immunization programs is the requirement for sustained long-term investment.5 Previous initiatives have run into problems with prioritizing increasing coverage over establishing sustainable healthcare systems.5 This can result in the diversion of funding and the masking of low local coverage rates, negatively affecting the overall program progress.
To address this disharmony, the past ten years have seen sustained efforts to establish coordinated organizations such as National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups and Interagency coordinating committees to improve stakeholder communication and resource distribution.5EPI and the COVID-19 pandemic The unprecedented nature of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic required a coordinated, swift, and effective immunization response at a global level with the EPI playing a significant role.
The future of immunization: Innovations and strategies The past 50 years of EPI operations have established that a faulty health system can cripple the benefits of even the best vaccine. As seen in the aforementioned coverage dips in the 1990s, addressing vaccine access inequities and strengthening the foundation of healthcare systems is essential for the continued success of the EPI.5
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Immunization strategies: What lessons can we learn from successful campaigns?Immunization strategies have been instrumental in controlling and eradicating diseases on a global scale.
Read more »
Ronnie O'Sullivan has exemption from long-standing World Snooker rule ahead of World ChampionshipRonnie O'Sullivan has received permission to be exempt from a long-standing World Snooker rule in events this season ahead of the World Championship.
Read more »
World Snooker Championship: Mark Allen says 'career will be disappointment without world title'Mark Allen has won two of snooker's Triple Crown titles but says he turned professional to win the World Championship.
Read more »
Four adventure holidays inspired by Race Across the World – including volcano trekking & world’s most bea...Race Across The World fans blast pair for using show as ‘free holiday’ as they ‘haemorrhage’ budget in first episode
Read more »
The world turns on Israel after World Central Kitchen slaughter: International fury grows, with UK...Seven aid workers from the World Central Kitchen, including a British man, have been killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza. The team from the charity and their Palestinian driver were killed in central Gaza's Deir al-Balah.
Read more »