The ultimate goal is the prevention of disease, disability, and death through immunization and by control of respiratory and related diseases, it also aims to provide coverage of immunizations to avoid missed opportunities for children eligible for free immunizations through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program.

 

Undoubtedly, immunizations are vital for improving public health and decreasing healthcare costs.

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One of the most cost-effective health investments a country can make are the vaccines in Routine Immunizations abbreviated as RI.

The Initiatives and strategies under global leadership and international forums to make vaccines universally available, especially to the remotest areas that are hard to reach, a home to vulnerable populations have saved countless lives in past years.

The list of benefits to the individuals ranges quite high, including not only the prevention from the diseases and disabilities but also the opportunity for a healthier and a more productive life.

 

The immunization programme was started in 1974, where the 27th World Health Assembly  recommended the use of vaccines to protect against six diseases namely: tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis measles and poliomyelitis. The program was an igniter for the dramatic changes in the world's public health strategy. In today’s time, every nation have  immunization programs, where in most of the developing countries, children below five years of age are immunized with the standard WHO recommended vaccines that protect against– tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus (including neonatal tetanus through immunization of mothers), pertussis, polio, measles, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), RotaVirus and Pneumococcal Vaccines. These vaccines prevent more than 2.5 million child deaths each year.