Immunization
Take children as scheduled to complete a full course of immunizations (BCG, DPT, OPV and measles) before their first birthday.
The benefits of immunization have been demonstrated widely. Increases in immunization coverage in the past decades have contributed substantially to decrease under-five mortality. Yet, more efforts are needed to further improve immunization coverage, also with the new vaccines: routine immunization could have averted 1.5 million deaths due to vaccine-preventable diseases in 2008.
Programmes on immunization have in recent years expanded the vaccine schedule for children further to add more immunizations, based on WHO recommendations on vaccines on Hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcus, rotavirus and meningococcus.
Interventions need to improve access to immunization services and, particularly, reach the unimmunized children, who are often the poorest.
Implementation of strategies such as IMCI (integrated management of child health) to identify and immunize or timely refer to immunization sessions children needing immunization during any encounter with the primary health care provider have the potential to contribute to reduce the high proportion of children who miss opportunities for immunization during consultations at health facility.
Social mobilization interventions to inform families about immunization services and motivate them to use them have succeeded in increasing immunization coverage (Family and community practices that promote child survival, growth and development: a review of the evidence).
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