Global immunization: status- progress- challenges and future.

Vaccines have made a major contribution to public health- including the eradication of one deadly disease- small pox- and the near eradication of another- poliomyelitis.Through the introduction of new vaccines- such as those against rotavirus and pneumococcal diseases- and with further improvements in coverage- vaccination can significantly contribute to the achievement of the health-related United Nations Millennium Development Goals.The Global Immunization Vision and Strategy (GIVS) was developed by WHO and UNICEF as a framework for strengthening national immunization programmes and protect as many people as possible against more diseases by expanding the reach of immunization- including new vaccines- to every eligible person.This paper briefly reviews global progress and challenges with respect to public vaccination programmes.The most striking recent achievement has been that of reduction of global measles mortality from an estimated 750-000 deaths in 2000 down to 197-000 in 2007. Global vaccination cover