In 1974, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) to make life-saving vaccines available across the globe. To mark EPI's 50th anniversary and highlight the profound impact of immunization on child survival, The Lancet published Contribution of Vaccination to Improved Survival and Health: Modelling 50 Years of the Expanded Programme on Immunization in its May 2 issue. 

Initially, the EPI focused on delivery of diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, polio, and tuberculosis (BCG) vaccines. Today, EPI includes vaccination against Hib, hepatitis B, rubella, pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, human papillomavirus, and (for adults) COVID-19.

A portion of the Lancet summary appears below.

Since 1974, vaccination has averted 154 million deaths, including 146 million among children younger than 5 years of whom 101 million were infants younger than 1 year [emphasis added]. For every death averted, 66 years of full health were gained on average, translating to 10.2 billion years of full health gained. We estimate that vaccination has accounted for 40% of the observed decline in global infant mortality, 52% in the African region. In 2024, a child younger than 10 years is 40% more likely to survive to their next birthday relative to a hypothetical scenario of no historical vaccination. Increased survival probability is observed even well into late adulthood. . . .

. . . Since 1974 substancial gains in childhood survival have occurred in every global region. We estimate that EPI has provided the single greatest contribution to improved infant survival over the past 50 years. In the context of strengthening primary health care, our results show that equitable universal access to immunisation remains crucial to sustain health gains and continue to save future lives from preventable infectious mortality.



Related Link

• WHO: Essential Programme on Immunization main page

For many years, Immunize​.org has offered translations of VISs and other popular handouts for vaccine recipients. Now, we are pleased to introduce a new Translations web page that provides quick access to every translated resource on the Immunize​.org website. Translations of one or more documents are available in 48 languages.

Languages are listed alphabetically in a simple table format. Next to the desired language, click on either “VISs” or “Clinical Resources” to view all documents in that category available in that language.

The "Translations" page is accessible from two menus at the top of each page: either the “Vaccines & VISs” or “Clinical Resources A–Z” menu. The direct link is www.immunize.org/translations. 

From the "Vaccines & VISs" menu:



From the "Clinical Resources A–Z" menu:



Patients benefit from having vaccine information in their preferred language. We hope this new page makes it easier for you to meet their needs.

• Immunize​.org: Translations of clinical resources and VISs
• Immunize​.org: Clinical Resources A–Z main page, where you can filter by topic, vaccine, language, or other criteria

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), American Pharmacists Association (APhA), and Hepatitis B Foundation will host a webinar titled Preventing Hepatitis B Infection at 2:00 p.m. (ET) on May 21 during Hepatitis Awareness Month. Discussion topics will include current U.S. recommendations for hepatitis B adult vaccination and screening, and strategies for effectively communicating these recommendations.



Register for the webinar. 

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