In 1974, WHO established the Expanded Programme on Immunization to ensure

that all children have access to routinely recommended vaccines. Since then, global coverage with the 4 core vaccines – Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine (BCG) for protection against tuberculosis, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine (DTP), polio vaccine, and measles vaccine – has increased from <5% to ≥85%, and additional vaccines have been added to the recommended schedule. Coverage with the third dose of DTP vaccine (DTP3) by age 12 months is a key indicator of immunization programme performance because it reflects completion of the basic infant immunization schedule; coverage with other vaccines, including the third dose of polio vaccine (polio3) and the first dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) is also assessed. Estimated global DTP3 coverage has remained at 84%–86% since

2009, with estimated 2014 coverage at 86%. Estimated global coverage for the second routine dose of measles-containing vaccine (MCV2) was 38% by the end of the second year of life and 56% when including older age groups. This is a modest increase from 36% and 55% respectively in 2013.