Reclaiming momentum: The Essential Programme on Immunization in the journey to 2030 and beyond

Abstract

Fifty-one years after the launch of the Expanded Programme on Immunization–now rebranded as the Essential Programme on Immunization–routine vaccination remains the most transformative public health intervention, preventing more than 154 million deaths globally. Yet despite this historic gain, the world is at a critical juncture. Since 2020, more than 20 million children are left under-vaccinated each year, leading to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. In our view, the greatest risk is the normalization of stagnation, where failure to attain optimal coverage is passively accepted as the new normal. This moment demands more than recovery; it requires renewed momentum, bold accountability, and strategies tailored to local realities. We argue that three accelerators are essential: embedding immunization within resilient primary health care systems, addressing vaccine hesitancy through trust-building and continuous engagement, and securing sustainable financing linked to equity goals. Implementation science must inform these actions, ensuring lessons are documented and adapted across contexts. The next 5 y, leading to 2030, will decide whether immunization delivers on its promise of protection for all or retreats into entrenched inequities. We contend that only political will, solidarity, and systematic learning can safeguard vaccines as a global public good for future generations.