This year marks 50 years since the development of the Expanded Program on Immunization, with the aim of ensuring equal access to vaccination for the world’s population.
On her chance European Vaccination Week(last week of April), o World Health Organisation, emphasizes the important contribution of vaccines to the elimination of life-threatening infectious diseases. In the context of this dedication, it calls on the member states to develop appropriate strategies for equal access of the population to vaccination regimens and the increase of vaccination coverage in all age groups.
They are celebrated this year 50 years from the development of the Expanded Program on Immunization, an initiative of the World Health Organization that began in 1974, with the aim of ensuring equal access to vaccination for the world’s population regardless of geographic or socioeconomic status. Immunization is a key component of the right to health but also an individual, community and governmental responsibility.
In the early stages of implementation, EPI focused on protecting children against tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and measles. One of the important milestones of this period is the eradication of smallpox in 1980. Today, the number of vaccines that are available has increased significantly while addressing all solar groups (infants, children, teenagers and adults) enhancing the range of immunity. Vaccines against Human Papillomavirus, pneumococcus and influenza are indicated as examples. Essentially, in just 5 decades a world was built where every child – through vaccination – has a chance to survive and prosper.
However, he says SFEEthe challenges are many and the fight against infectious diseases requires constant vigilance and broad partnerships – national and transnational as shown in the recent public health crisis due to the Covid – 19 pandemic.
“Especially today, collective efforts to close vaccination gaps are imperative as the pandemic has seen an alarming global decline in vaccination rates and by extension herd immunity with the risk of a resurgence of life-threatening infectious diseases such as measles and whooping cough. The big lesson from the pandemic is that health care should now focus on the prevention and control of chronic diseases. Investing in prevention, as you may know, is an investment in public health and the economy.” emphasizes SFEE.
A recent study by the US Center for Infectious Diseases (CDC) states that for every dollar spent on childhood vaccination, $3 is saved in terms of direct costs and $10 in terms of total costs to society. In Greece, for every euro invested in childhood vaccination, it is estimated that savings of 3.1 euros are made directly and 8.5 euros in total from indirect social costs.
In this direction, Mr SFEE considers it particularly important to adhere to national recommendations, to establish vaccination targets in accordance with international and European directives, to continuously inform the population, to invest in innovative vaccines and to monitor vaccination coverage through recording systems. Special emphasis should be given by the entire State to maintaining vaccination coverage for infants and children and increasing vaccination rates for teenagers and adults as extremely low rates of vaccination coverage are noted.
“Vaccination is a key pillar of Health Policy. The development and implementation of vaccination programs are an investment in people and society. Greece has one of the most modern vaccination programs aimed at all age groups of the population. However, collective efforts are needed with the aim of properly following vaccination recommendations and forming a common understanding about the benefits of prevention and health promotion policies”concludes SFEE.
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