GLOBAL VACCINE ACTION PLAN

Immunization has proven the test of time as one of public health’s most cost-effective interventions. In
2017, the number of children immunized – 116.2 million – was the highest ever reported. Since 2010,
113 countries have introduced new vaccines, and more than 20 million additional children have been
vaccinated. (WHO, 2019)

Nevertheless, this year starkly illustrates how easily hard-won gains are lost. Because of low coverage
nationally, or pockets of low coverage, multiple WHO regions have been hit with large measles and
diphtheria outbreaks causing many deaths. The continued detection of circulating vaccine-derived
poliovirus is further evidence that national immunization programs are not achieving the goal of
reaching every child. (WHO, 2019)

A. TETANUS & DIFTERI (TD/DPT)

DTaP vaccine can help protect your child from diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.

 DIPHTHERIA (D) can cause breathing problems, paralysis, and heart failure. Before
vaccines, diphtheria killed tens of thousands of children every year in the United States.
  TETANUS (T) causes painful tightening of the muscles. It can cause “locking” of the jaw
so you cannot open your mouth or swallow. About 1 person out of 5 who get tetanus
dies.
 PERTUSSIS (aP), also known as Whooping Cough, causes coughing spells so bad that it is
hard for infants and children to eat, drink, or breathe. It can cause pneumonia, seizures,
brain damage, or death.

Most children who are vaccinated with DTaP will be protected throughout childhood. Many
more children would get these diseases if we stopped vaccinating. Before vaccines, as many as
200,000 cases of diphtheria and hundreds of cases of tetanus were reported in the United
States each year. Since vaccination began, reports of cases for both diseases have dropped by
about 99%.

B. MMR

MMR vaccine is very effective at protecting people against measles, mumps, and rubella, and
preventing the complications caused by these diseases. People who received two doses of
MMR vaccine as children according to the U.S. vaccination schedule are usually considered
protected for life and don’t need a booster dose. An additional dose may be needed if you are
at risk because of a mumps outbreak. One dose of MMR vaccine is 93% effective against
measles, 78% effective against mumps, and 97% effective against rubella. Two doses of MMR
vaccine are 97% effective against measles and 88% effective against mumps.
C. INFLUENZA

Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even
death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently, but
millions of people get the flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and
thousands or tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year. An annual
seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu.

 Flu vaccine prevents millions of illnesses and flu-related doctor’s visits each year. For
example, during 2016-2017, flu vaccination prevented an estimated 5.3 million influenza
illnesses, 2.6 million influenza-associated medical visits, and 85,000 influenza-associated
hospitalizations.
 In seasons when the vaccine viruses matched circulating strains, flu vaccine has been
shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor with flu by 40 percent to 60 percent.

D. HEPATITIS
a. Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease. It is caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is spread
from person to person through contact with the feces (stool) of people who are infected, which
can easily happen if someone does not wash his or her hands properly. You can also get
hepatitis A from food, water, or objects contaminated with HAV. Hepatitis A vaccine can
prevent hepatitis A. Hepatitis A vaccines were recommended in the United States beginning in
1996. Since then, the number of cases reported each year in the U.S. has dropped from around
31,000 cases to fewer than 1,500 cases.
b. Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B is a contagious virus that is transmitted through blood, blood products, and other
body fluids (such as semen). Travelers can become infected through unprotected sex with an
infected person, injection drug use, and transfusions with unscreened blood. The vaccine is
over 90% effective, and has been considered a routine childhood vaccine since 1995.

E. TYPHOID FEVER

Typhoid fever is a serious disease spread by contaminated food and water. Symptoms of
typhoid include lasting high fevers, weakness, stomach pains, headache, and loss of appetite.
Some patients have constipation, and some have a rash. Internal bleeding and death can occur
but are rare.
Typhoid vaccine is not 100% effective and is not a substitute for being careful about what you
eat or drink.

F. Human Papilloma Virus

HPV vaccine prevents infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) types that are associated with
many cancers, including cervical cancer in females. In addition, HPV vaccine prevents infection
with HPV types that cause genital warts in both females and males. In the U.S., about 12,000
women get cervical cancer every year, and about 4,000 women die from it. HPV vaccine can
prevent most of these cases of cervical cancer. Vaccination is not a substitute for cervical
cancer screening. This vaccine does not protect against all HPV types that can cause cervical
cancer. Women should still get regular Pap tests. HPV infection usually comes from sexual
contact, and most people will become infected at some point in their life. About 14 million
Americans, including teens, get infected every year. Most infections will go away on their own
and not cause serious problems. But thousands of women and men get cancer and other
diseases from HPV.

G. RABIES

Rabies is a vaccine-preventable viral disease which occurs in more than 150 countries and
territories. Dogs are the main source of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99% of all
rabies transmissions to humans. Rabies elimination is feasible through vaccination of dogs and
prevention of dog bites. Infection causes tens of thousands of deaths every year, mainly in Asia
and Africa. 40% of people bitten by suspect rabid animals are children under 15 years of age.
Immediate, thorough wound washing with soap and water after contact with a suspect rabid
animal is crucial and can save lives. Many countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region have
embarked on rabies elimination campaigns in line with the target of regional elimination by
2020. Bangladesh launched an elimination programme in 2010 and, through the management
of dog bites, mass dog vaccination, and increased availability of vaccines free of charge, human
rabies deaths decreased by 50% between 2010–2013.