SEATTLE — The poorest communities around the world continue to grapple with diseases that permanently alter their quality of life. World Immunization Week brings attention to the fact that many of these diseases, like polio and measles, are preventable with a simple vaccine. However, lack of education and access to health resources, often combined with political instability, are holding some countries back, leaving thousands of populations still at risk.
In April, the World Health Organization (WHO) sponsored World Immunization Week. The WHO not only aims to increase awareness about the efficacy and necessity of vaccine programs, but also to highlight the steps being taken by the global community to increase immunization rates and save lives.
The WHO’s mission, highlighted by World Immunization Week, is a six step global vaccine action plan to provide “immunization for all throughout life:”
- Immunization against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis: Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis are painful diseases, particularly for children. According to the CDC, these diseases have a variety of debilitating affects such as paralysis, heart failure and whooping cough. These symptoms can make it extremely difficult for children to eat and breathe and often result in death. However, the global community has made positive strides in addressing these illnesses. In 2014, 115 million infants worldwide received the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine. Nonetheless, the WHO also reports that 18.7 million remain unvaccinated against these diseases.
- Measles mortality reduction: The CDC says that measles is the deadliest of all childhood rash / fever illnesses. Measles is highly contagious and can be costly — the CDC reports that a household in Ethiopia can lose one month’s income due to caring for a measles-infected child. In 2014, about 85 percent of the world’s children received one dose of measles vaccine by their first birthday. However, 15 percent of all children are not being immunized with at least one dose and only the Americas region has eliminated the disease. The target goal is to eliminate measles in all six WHO regions by 2020.
- Rubella elimination: If a woman is infected with the rubella virus in the early stages of pregnancy, she has a 90 percent chance of passing the virus on to her fetus according to the WHO. This can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or severe birth defects due to Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). Many of the conditions caused by CRS require costly therapy, surgeries and other expensive treatments that impoverished families cannot afford or do not have access to. The WHO Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network facilitates the diagnosis of rubella and CRS cases and tracks of the spread of rubella viruses. Their research has shown that half of all children do not receive the rubella vaccine. The goal is to eliminate rubella from at least five WHO regions by the end of 2020.
- Maternal and tetanus elimination: Twenty-one countries have not yet eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus. Maternal and neonatal tetanus highlights the shocking inequity in healthcare provision. Simple solutions exist to stop the development of maternal and neonatal tetanus, such as ensuring clean birth and umbilical cord care and vaccinating mothers during pregnancy. These measures can ensure that families will no longer lose mothers, wives and children to preventable illness and death.
- Polio eradication: The WHO target is “a world free of polio.” Significant successes in polio eradication have occurred over the last few decades. According to a WHO report, Africa has not had a case of wild poliovirus since August 2014. Somalia has succeeded in stopping two major polio outbreaks after implementing a healthcare rebuilding process. In parts of the country that have made health care more accessible, great progress is being made. However, obstacles have hindered immunization rates, as only 30 to 40 percent of Somali children are immunized against major childhood diseases. Increased funding and access to much needed vaccinations remains a major focus. Special attention is also needed in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where polio remains an endemic issue.
- Use of new, underutilized vaccines: Many newly developed vaccines with proven efficacy have been developed, such as the rapidly developed Ebola vaccines. However, many new vaccines remain underutilized even though they have proven potential to protect against various diseases. The WHO goal is for all low and middle income countries to introduce at least one or more underutilized vaccines. The good news is that this target is on track — 86 countries have introduced and sustained a total of 128 vaccines since 2010.
Global, regional and country development partners must continue to coordinate their efforts to encourage countries to immunize more at-risk populations, particularly children. This can be done by strengthening healthcare delivery systems to ensure people have access to necessary vaccines. The WHO continues to work with organizations such as the GAVI Alliance to provide funding and guidance to countries with developing healthcare systems.
The GAVI Alliance is an effective global partnership of scientists, health experts, government leaders, businesses and humanitarian organizations. GAVI’s goal is to increase access to immunization rates the world’s poorest countries by providing funding, vaccine supplies and technical support to countries with the greatest needs. With continued advocacy (like through World Immunization Week), synchronization of healthcare efforts and increased education to healthcare workers in developing nations, the global community can succeed in preventing unnecessary deaths worldwide.
– Taylor Resteghini
Photo: Flickr