WHO unveils global immunization strategy

Context

A UN-led global immunization strategy was unveiled recently to reach more than 50 million children who have missed lifesaving jabs against measles and other diseases because of COVID-19 disruption.

About the strategy

• The strategy is launched by WHO UNICEF, GAVI.
• Routine vaccination: To avoid multiple outbreaks of life-threatening diseases like measles, yellow fever and diphtheria, it must be ensured that routine vaccination services are protected in every country in the world.
• The new global strategy has the potential to save 50 million lives within less than a decade.
• The Agenda focuses on vaccination throughout life, from infancy through to adolescence and older age. If fully implemented, it will avert an estimated 50 million deaths, according to WHO - 75% of them in low- and lower-middle income countries.

Targets

• Targets to be achieved by 2030 include:
  • Achieve 90% coverage for essential vaccines given in childhood and adolescence
  • Halve the number of children completely missing out on vaccines
  • Complete 500 national or subnational introductions of new or under-utilized vaccines  - such as those for COVID-19, rotavirus, or human papillomavirus (HPV)

Challenges in vaccination

• A WHO survey showed more than one third of countries were still seeing disruptions to their routine immunisation services.
• Around 60 mass vaccination campaigns were currently postponed in 50 countries, putting 228 million people, mostly children, at risk of diseases such as measles and polio.