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| Credit: WHO |
One of out five infants worldwide, or some 22 million young children, lack immunization from diseases such as polio, diphtheria, measles, pneumonia, and tetanus, among others. This was reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) at the United Nations Global Vaccine Summit held last 25 April 2013 in Abu Dhabi.
The Global Vaccine Summit aims to protect millions of children from diseases like measles and tetanus through inoculations. However, the Summit paid particular attention to polio eradication efforts.
“Immunization is one of the best and most cost-effective ways to prevent these diseases and safeguard young lives,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his video message to the Summit in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
He noted that 80 per cent of children –more than at any time in history – are immunized, but cautioned that work remains, “We have reached four out of five children worldwide. Now it is time to reach that fifth child wherever he or she may be. We must break down all barriers that stand in our way.”
Health groups at the Summit announced they could rid the world of polio by 2018 with a $5.5 billion vaccination and monitoring plan to stop the disease.
“The global success so far in fighting polio shows how far we can advance,” Mr. Ban said, highlighting the international alliance of partners which includes the UN, governments, civil society and private sector.
“We have a window of opportunity to end polio forever. And we have a greater appreciation for the power of partnerships,” Mr. Ban said.
The Summit is being held during World Immunization Week which started on 20 April with its call to“protect your world, get vaccinated” in 180 countries, as part of an efforts to reach universal immunization coverage.
Vaccination averts an estimated 2-3 million deaths every year, according to UN figures, from preventable diseases such as diphtheria, measles, whooping cough, pneumonia, polio rotavirus, diarrhoea, rubella and tetanus.
Launched at the Abu Dhabi Summit, three-doses of the vaccine protect against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hepatitis B and an influenza known as Hib which can lead to meningitis, pneumonia and other illnesses.