World Immunization Week 2015-Global vaccination targets ‘off-track’

As we commence the global Immunization week 2015, below is a press release from the World Health Organization, Key facts are that the progress made so far globally are way off track, in the press release, recommendations were made as well as call for operational needs to get a more wider coverage of the worlds population with immunization and key steps for closing the Immunization Gap.Read Below

22 APRIL 2015 | GENEVA – Progress towards global vaccination targets for 2015 is far off-track with 1 in 5 children still missing out on routine life-saving immunizations that could avert 1.5 million deaths each year from preventable diseases. In the lead-up to World Immunization Week 2015 (24–30 April), WHO is calling for renewed efforts to get progress back on course.
In 2013 nearly 22 million infants missed out on the required three doses of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-containing vaccines (DTP3), many of them living in the world’s poorest countries. WHO is calling for an end to the unnecessary disability and death caused by failure to vaccinate.
“World Immunization Week creates a focused global platform to reinvigorate our collective efforts to ensure vaccination for every child, whoever they are and wherever they live,” said Dr Flavia Bustreo, WHO Assistant Director-General, Family, Women's and Children's Health. “It is critical that the global community now makes a collective and cohesive effort to put progress towards our 6 targets back on track.”
In 2012, all 194 WHO Member States at the World Health Assembly endorsed the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP), a commitment to ensure that no one misses out on vital immunization. However, a recent independent assessment report on GVAP progress rings an alarm bell, warning that vaccines are not being delivered equitably or reliably and that only 1 of the 6 key vaccination targets for 2015 is currently on track – the introduction of under-utilized vaccines.
Many countries worldwide have experienced large measles outbreaks in the past year, threatening efforts to achieve the GVAP target of eliminating measles in 3 WHO Regions by end-2015.

The GVAP recommends three key steps for closing the immunization gap:

• integrating immunization with other health services, such as postnatal care for mothers and babies;
• strengthening health systems so that vaccines continue to be given even in times of crisis; and
• ensuring that everyone can access vaccines and afford to pay for them

Critical operational needs to ensure wider vaccination and delivery on the ground, include:

• finding ways to simplify vaccination procedures in the field;
• improving vaccination delivery to reach every last child, especially those living in remote and inaccessible areas;
• ensuring vaccine affordability and strengthening vaccine supply chains;
• training more health workers, skilled managers and providing supportive supervision;
• improving the quality of data collected by countries and using this to improve immunization operations;
• overcoming challenges posed by conflict, natural disasters and other crises;
• increasing awareness and demand for immunization by communities; and
• greater accountability linked to micro-planning of vaccination operations and clear lines of responsibility.

Note: The Global Vaccine Action Plan envisions a world where everyone lives life free from vaccine preventable diseases by 2020. It set 6 targets for 2015.
Read the full details from WHO Website here