A Decade of Global Vaccine Action Plan

Four out of every 5 children receive at least a basic set of vaccine during infancy that allows them to lead healthy, productive lives.

This, however, still translates to 20 percent of children who do not benefit from basic immunization.

Global Vaccine Action Plan

Vaccine image courtesy of blogs.elca.org

Thus, to prevent millions of deaths from preventable diseases, 194 member states of the World Health Organization have endorse the 2011 – 2020 Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) during the World Health Assembly in May 2012.

With the approval of the World Health Assembly, the GVAP will then be adapted for implementation at the regional and country levels.
GVAP is a framework to prevent between 24.6 and 25.6 million deaths by the end of the decade. This can be achieved by making sure that there is more equitable access to existing vaccines for all people in all communities.

Global Vaccine Action Plan Main Goal

One of GVAP’s main goals is to free the world from poliomyelitis. At present, only 3 countries are still reporting cases of poliomyelitis – these are Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.

The other goals are to include elimination of the other vaccine – preventable diseases such as measles, tetanus and rubella or German measles, the development and introduction of new and improved vaccines and technology to further decrease deaths in children under 5 years.

At present, four out of every five children receive at least a basic set of vaccinations during infancy that allow them to lead healthy, productive lives. This, however, still translates to 20 percent of children who do not benefit from basic immunization.
The global and regional targets for the elimination of measles and rubella, on the other hand, can be met if neo-natal tetanus is eliminated by 2015.

Measles should be eliminated in at least four WHO regions by 2015. Rubella / congenital rubella syndrome should also be eliminated in at least 2 regions during this period.

Vaccine image courtesy of foodmatters.tv

2020 Vaccine Goal

By 2020, the target is to eliminate measles and rubella in at least five WHO regions.

With implementation, millions of children’s lives will be saved and the Millenium Development Goal can be achieved through the help of vaccine.