Abstract
The Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI) led by WHO and UNICEF has recently celebrated its 40th anniversary and the profound increase of childhood vaccination coverage globally to more than 80%. 1
However, translation of this achievement into an estimate of deaths averted is daunting because of a shortage of demographic and epidemiological data in most resource-poor settings, and the rapidly changing landscape of disease mortality. 2
A complementary approach to such estimations is to analyse historical data from European nations, where classic EPI vaccines were introduced in the 1950s and epidemiological records abound.
However, translation of this achievement into an estimate of deaths averted is daunting because of a shortage of demographic and epidemiological data in most resource-poor settings, and the rapidly changing landscape of disease mortality. 2
A complementary approach to such estimations is to analyse historical data from European nations, where classic EPI vaccines were introduced in the 1950s and epidemiological records abound.
Original language | English |
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Journal | The Lancet Infectious Diseases |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 5 |
Pages (from-to) | 516-518 |
Number of pages | 3 |
ISSN | 1473-3099 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 May 2016 |
Externally published | Yes |