Likewise, UNICEF is undertaking the immunization plus project, ensuring that all centres have an adequate supply of vaccines and staff is able to conduct immunizations.

Vitamin A supplements will be provided annually to all under 5 children (about 30 million) along with Oral Polio Vaccine on National Immunisation Days through the EPI network.

This will augment the activities of the Expanded Programme of Immunization.

C. Immunization plus

Immunization against measles

Immunization against children's paralyses

UNICEF and the World Bank have also made provision in their programme for significant support to IMCI.

Immunization against measles (morbili), in percentage

E. Immunization plus oral report

Major studies have been completed in this plan period on immunization plus , the African Girls' Education Initiative and external support to basic education (a joint multi donor evaluation).

The high cost of this vaccine, which is grown in live mice, means that poorer countries have not been able to afford to give it as part of a routine immunization program.

By 2000, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) had covered 90 per cent of Vanuatu's population with hepatitis B being covered in the same schedule.

Welcomes the Global Immunization Vision and Strategy

Welcomes the Global Immunization Vision and Strategy

Campaigns reached over 5 million children, while the restoration of routine immunization has been crucial for minimizing the risk of disease spread.

Immunization campaigns and related accelerated efforts had reached children in marginalized families, but at the same time had detracted attention and resources from routine immunization services.

Global Immunization Vision and Strategy oral report

The secretariat said that immunization remained a high priority.

Almost all the Lady Health Workers (LHWs) in 57 districts have been trained as Hepatitis B has been introduced in the EPI regime with the help of grant assistance from Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunization (GAVI).

Target 1 Immunization and vitamin A coverage, disease reduction and immunization safety

BCG immunization coverage, 1991 2002 period

Multiple vaccination campaigns have successfully averted major epidemics.

Having considered the draft global immunization vision and strategy,

Having considered the draft global immunization vision and strategy,

Immunization against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis

The challenge will be in financing GIVS and ensuring linkages with other efforts.

Delegations welcomed the GIVS, in particular the focus on reaching the under served, the less fragmented approach to strengthening immunization systems and the linkage with other health interventions.

In Indonesia, UNICEF was working with WHO to accelerate special immunization campaigns.

The secretariat said that it was vital to further strengthen routine immunization with four contacts for every child, and to linking immunization to other high impact intervention to have an even higher impact on child mortality.

The GIVS built on experiences in immunization in recent years and intended to provide a unified vision to guide future formulation and implementation of immunization programmes and other related interventions at all levels.

Mass immunization has largely eliminated polio.

Routine immunization efforts more often incorporate other high impact measures.

To accelerate the process of implementing efforts to promote child survival in Guinea, USAID, through the Basics II Project, has established a national office to support the Ministry of Health in the areas of IMCI and EPI (Expanded Programme on Immunization).

Possible additional broad based funding mechanisms such as the front loading of immunization support through international financing facilities may enable further expansion of immunization services and the introduction of new and or under used vaccines.

Several delegations commended UNICEF for its pivotal role in strengthening immunization systems at country level and encouraged integration of immunization into the national health planning and budgeting processes.

But the one thing that we know about immunization is that we can reach everyone.

In recent years, routine immunization has consistently reached about three quarters of the world's children.

UNICEF also conducted an internal review of its performance in immunization and recommendations were made for future priorities.

I. UNICEF WHO Global Immunization Vision and Strategy (GIVS)

(a) to meet immunization targets expressed in the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children

It further notes the high level of immunization coverage and that health services are free and cover all areas of the country.

Representatives of some of the affected countries cited immunization campaigns and efforts to get children back to school.

More investment in immunization was needed, particularly through new financing mechanisms.

UNICEF provided all necessary information technology infrastructure as well as funding for the training of health staff in the implementation of a harmonized management information system between the Ministry of Health and UNRWA for the immunization programme, allowing the Palestinian Authority to have comprehensive data for all districts in the West Bank.

Despite the phasing down of National Immunization Days, vitamin A supplementation coverage remained steady.