Vaccination: A Legacy of Success and Persistent Challenges, 50 Years Since the Launch of the Expanded Programme on Immunization
Main Article Content
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2466-4920
Erika Zoe Lopatynsky-Reyes
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4121-6521
Yodira Guadalupe Hernandez-Ruiz
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7037-664X
Abstract
Fifty years have passed since the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) was established by the World Health Assembly in May 1974, revolutionizing global vaccination coverage and significantly reducing the disease, social, and economic burden of vaccine-preventable diseases included in the program.
This publication provides a comprehensive overview of the global impact of vaccines, covering their history—from variolation to modern and future vaccine platforms—as well as the creation of key organizations such as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). It also highlights the contributions of both humanitarian and commercial entities that have played a crucial role in achieving worldwide vaccination reach.
While celebrating these achievements, this work also underscores the present and future challenges in ensuring equitable vaccine access across the globe. Additionally, it emphasizes the urgent need for vaccines against numerous diseases that remain without immunization solutions. Without a doubt, vaccination stands as the most impactful public health intervention of our time.
Article Details
The Medical Research Archives grants authors the right to publish and reproduce the unrevised contribution in whole or in part at any time and in any form for any scholarly non-commercial purpose with the condition that all publications of the contribution include a full citation to the journal as published by the Medical Research Archives.
References
2. Saleh A, Qamar S, Tekin A, Singh R, Kashyap R. Vaccine Development Throughout History. Cureus 2021; 13: e16635. Doi: 10.7759/cureus.16635.
3. Immunize.org. Vaccine History Timeline. https://www.immunize.org/vaccines/vaccine-timeline/ (Accessed February 3, 2025).
4. Clem AS. Fundamentals of vaccine immunology. J Glob Infect Dis 2011; 3: 73-8. Doi: 10.4103/0974-777X.77299.
5. WHO: Declaration of global eradication of smallpox WHA33.3. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHA33-3. (Accessed February 4, 2025).
6. WHO: Polio eradication strategy 2022–2026: delivering on a promise. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240031937 (Accessed February 4, 2025).
7. World Health Assembly, 27. (1974). WHO expanded programme on immunization. World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/92778 (Accessed February 4, 2024).
8. Bland J, Clements J. Protecting the world's children: the story of WHO's immunization programme. World Health Forum. 1998;19:162-73. PMID: 9652217.
9. Shattock AJ, Johnson HC, Sim SY, Carter A, Lambach P, Hutubessy RCW, et al. Contribution of vaccination to improved survival and health: modelling 50 years of the Expanded Programme on Immunization. Lancet 2024; 403: 2307–16. Doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00850-X.
10. Haelle T. The staggering success of vaccines. Vaccines are the first step toward health equity in many parts of the world. Sci Am 2024; 331: 86. Doi: 10.1038/d41586-024-03412-3
11. PAHO Revolving Fund. https://www.paho.org/en/revolving-fund. (Accessed January 30, 2025).
12. WHO. Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE). https://www.who.int/groups/strategic-advisory-group-of-experts-on-immunization/. (Accessed January 28, 2025).
13. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. A history of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QTf5CPC1Tw. (Accessed February 1, 2025).
14. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) Homepage. https://cepi.net/. (Accessed February 1, 2025).
15. WHO-COVAX. https://www.who.int/initiatives/act-accelerator/covax. (Accessed February 1, 2025).
16. Nunes C, McKee M, Howard N. The role of global health partnerships in vaccine equity: a scoping review. PLOS Glob Public Health 2024; 4: e0002834. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0002834.
17. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Immunization. https://www.gatesfoundation.org/our-work/programs/global-development/immunization. (Accessed February 1, 2025).
18. Donors making a difference: Transforming WHO. 11 December 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/Donors-making-a-difference--Transforming-WHO (Accessed February 2, 2025).
19. CNN. Trump announces US withdrawal from World Health Organization. https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/21/politics/trump-executive-action-world-health-organization-withdrawal/index.html. (Accessed January 23, 2025).
20. Hasso-Agopsowicz M, Hwang A, Hollm-Delgado MG, Umbelino-Walker I, Karron RA, Rao R, et al. Identifying WHO global priority endemic pathogens for vaccine research and development (R&D) using multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA): an objective of the Immunization Agenda 2030. EbioMedicine 2024; 4: 105424. Doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105424.
21. WHO. Immunization Agenda 2030. A global strategy to leave no one behind. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/immunization/strategy/ia2030/ia2030-document-en.pdf. (Accessed January 31, 2025).