Global immunizations have saved at least 154 million lives over the past 50 years: WHO led study | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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Global immunizations have saved at least 154 million lives over the past 50 years: WHO led study

Posted 25 Apr 2024

2 min read

  • The study analyzed the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), launched by WHO in 1974 to ensure that all children, in all countries, benefited from life-saving vaccines.

 

  • Key findings
    • Vaccines saved 6 lives every minute of every year over the past 50 years.  
    • Measles vaccination had the most significant impact on reducing infant mortality.
    • Vaccination against 14 diseases contributed to reducing infant mortality by 40% globally
    • For each life saved through immunization, an average of 66 years of full health were gained.

 

  • Factors responsible for increase in access to immunisation
    • Collaboration among stakeholders such as governments, health agencies, etc.
    • UNICEF and GAVI have expanded vaccine access.

 

  • Challenges in Immunization
    • Inequitable vaccine distribution and Financing of vaccination.
    • Underinformed and misinformed populations fear side effects.

 

  • Initiatives taken in India
    • Mission Indradhanush (2014) aims to cover all children who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated against vaccine preventable diseases under Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).
      • UIP provide free vaccines against 12 life threatening diseases like Tetanus, Polio, etc.
    • Intensified Mission Indradhanush (2017) progress reaching each child under two years of age and all those pregnant women left uncovered.
    • U-WIN digital platform for routine Immunization in pilot mode.

 

About GAVI

  • It is a Vaccine Alliance, launched in 2000.
  • Alliance includes WHO, UNICEF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) as core founding members.
  • It was created to expand the impact of EPI and help the poorest countries in the world increase coverage.
  • In 2014, India became the first implementing country donating to GAVI.
  • Tags :
  • WHO
  • Immunisation
  • vaccines
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