Global partners celebrate 50 years of immunization progress

On 28 May 2024, World Health Assembly delegates and partners participated in a special high-level event, Celebrating 50 years of immunization progress: honouring achievements, embracing innovation, and envisioning the future, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). 

Opening the event, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General said, “Thanks to immunization, a child born today is 40% more likely to see their first birthday than a child born 50 years ago. This progress results from partnership – leaders, scientists, civil society, communities and families who have worked together to deliver on the dream of immunization for all.”  

The commemoration celebrated the estimated minimum of 154 million lives saved through EPI over the last 50 years and called for renewed political and financial commitment to prioritize, invest in and strengthen essential immunization programmes worldwide, especially to reach ‘zero-dose’ children who have missed vital vaccinations.  

Achievements in immunization would not be possible without the dedication of health and care workers worldwide. Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance expressed her gratitude during her spotlight remarks by saying, “Hundreds of thousands of people have contributed to where we are today. We’re celebrating that victory.”  

Throughout the event, attendees also heard from generations of immunization leaders, including H.E. Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Health, Indonesia; Dr Tore Godal, Former Advisor to the Prime Minister, Norway and founding CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; H.E. Khumbize Chiponda, Minister of Health, Malawi; Dr Umit Kartoglu, President & CEO, Extensio et Progressio; Ted Chaiban, Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF, Dr Viviane T. Oke, Physician and Youth Advocate, Benin; and Nazifi Garba, Community Health Worker, Youth Advocate, Nigeria. 

During a spotlight section, Ted Chaiban shared how immunization has played a key role in the child survival revolution the past 50 years. “Immunization is an example of what humans can do when they put their hearts and their minds to a task, and they commit to making a difference. It really is what’s humanly possible,” he said. He shared the need to build vaccine confidence, develop new technologies to make vaccination simpler and strengthen primary healthcare to continue progress in the future. 

Speakers also shared personal stories. H.E. Chiponda shared how vaccines made a life-changing difference for her family 5 decades ago, as three of her elder siblings did not survive due to childhood illnesses and no access to immunization at the time. She expressed the importance of immunizing all children not only to save lives but to prevent costly outbreaks like the recent wild poliovirus outbreak in Malawi. She said, “How much love can you show than immunizing your child. We love our children, we love our countries, and we love the world. Let's mop up all the zero-dose children. That is now our agenda.” 

The event also looked forward, with speakers emphasizing their vision and ambition for the next 50 years of immunization and innovation. As EPI has expanded to include vaccines to protect against more than 30 diseases, Dr Tore Godal called on the need for more cost-benefit analyses to show governments the human capital available later in life by ensuring vaccination across the life-course and to help reduce health costs as people age. Further speakers also emphasized the need to continue the introduction and uptake of new vaccines, including those for malaria and meningitis.  

“Vaccines continue to be a best buy,” said Greg Widmyer, Senior Advisor on Immunization at the Gates Foundation. “We need to continue to simplify what we do and to bring product costs down so that immunization remains one of the best things that public health institutions and governments can invest in.” 

Speakers also paid tribute to John Lloyd, who was the architect of the vaccine cold chain and an unsung hero in global health; listened to songs from singer Angélique Kidjo and the Scrubs choir; and heard calls to action by youth advocates, Dr Oke and Nazifi Garba, to put girls and women at the centre of health policies and to further support community health workers.  

“By engaging in dialogue, addressing concern, and providing accurate information, we can empower individuals and families to make informed decisions about their health,” said Nazifi Garba. “By working together and putting community at the centre of our work, we can bridge the gap between knowledge and action, ensuring every child has access to life-saving vaccines.”