Access to vaccines and immunization programme

Abstract

Vaccine, one of the most cost-effective health interventions, is a health prevention tool to protect humans against infectious diseases. Access to vaccine is one of the foci among health policy makers around the globe. To improve the access to vaccine and immunization programme, several health policies have been implemented including WHO Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), the establishment of Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) and the Global Vaccine Action Plan 2011-2020. Future challenges include the increase in vaccine hesitancy rate, the use of mandatory immunization and the inclusion of adult and adolescent vaccine into the EPI.