Commemorating World Immunization Week 2024 and the 50th Anniversary of the Expanded Program on Immunization
Primary TextUSAID focused on reducing child mortality – one of the most pernicious forms of injustice. That meant taking on the biggest child killers – such as malnutrition, vaccine-preventable illnesses, and diseases like malaria
Secondary TextDr. Atul Gawande | Assistant Administrator, USAID Global Health Bureau
World Immunization Week celebrates the incredible impact of vaccines in protecting children and communities. This year we mark a significant milestone: the 50 year anniversary of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI). Building on the momentum of the smallpox eradication effort, EPI was initiated with the goal of providing universal access to life-saving vaccines for children worldwide. This program seeks to safeguard individuals of all ages through comprehensive immunization efforts. Today, every country has a national immunization programme, and vaccines are universally recognized as among the safest, most cost-effective, and successful public health interventions.
As we celebrate EPI at 50, we also commemorate USAID's long standing history in support of immunization programs and child survival at global, regional, and country levels. In the mid-1980s, USAID launched a major initiative to boost global immunization coverage, beginning a lasting legacy of investing in vaccination programs in our partner countries.
Today, USAID’s efforts are focused on expanding access to new and underutilized vaccines, including the rollout of a new malaria vaccine and the reintroduction of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which effectively prevents cervical cancer. We also remain steadfast in our commitment to reaching children who have never received vaccines (zero-dose) and those who have not completed their vaccine schedules (underimmunized) through routine immunization systems strengthening. Through our partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, USAID has helped immunize over 1 billion children. Now, that’s something worth celebrating!
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