Protecting the world's children: the story of WHO's immunization programme

Abstract

Systematic immunization on a worldwide scale was not officially recognized as a practical possibility until 1974, when WHO launched its Expanded Programme on Immunization. Today, 80% of the world's children receive this form of protection against childhood diseases during their first year of life. Coverage can reach 90% by the year 2000, the effectiveness of the vaccines used is improving, and vaccines against additional diseases are being added to the programme.

PIP: In 1796, English country doctor Edward Jenner demonstrated that scratching cowpox virus onto the skin produced immunity against smallpox. Following this scientific demonstration, the practice of vaccination gradually became widespread during the 19th century, and began to be applied to other infections. However, the use of vaccines was largely confined to the industrialized countries. Immunization played no significant role in the World Health Organization's (WHO) early activities. In 1974, however, WHO launched its Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) with the goal of immunizing all of the world's children against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, poliomyelitis, and tuberculosis. At that time, only less than 5% of all children had been immunized against the diseases. The word "expanded" referred to the addition of measles and poliomyelitis to the vaccines then being used in the immunization program. Now, 80% of the world's children receive such protection against childhood diseases during their first year of life, coverage could reach 90% by 2000, vaccines are becoming more effective, and vaccines against additional diseases are being added to the program.