Vaccines work

WORLD Immunisation Week – celebrated in the last week of April – aims to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease.
And today is the start of World Immunisation Week.
Immunisation saves millions of lives every year and is widely recognised as one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective health interventions.
Yet, there are still nearly 20 million unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children in the world today.
The theme this year is Protected Together: Vaccines Work, and the campaign will celebrate Vaccine Heroes from around the world – from parents and community members to health workers and innovators – who help ensure we are all protected through the power of vaccines.
In 2017, the number of children immunised – 116.2 million – was the highest ever reported. Since 2010, 113 countries have introduced new vaccines, and more than 20 million additional children have been vaccinated.
But despite the gains, all of the targets for disease elimination – including measles, rubella, and maternal and neonatal tetanus – are behind schedule, and over the past two years the world has seen multiple outbreaks of measles, diphtheria and various other vaccine-preventable diseases. Most of the children missing out are those living in the poorest, marginalised and conflict-affected communities.
Vaccination of children has saved millions of lives and has protected children and public from devastating vaccine preventable diseases throughout the world, including thousands of lives in Papua New Guinea.
Health Minister Sir Puka Temu earlier this year made an undertaking to give special attention to this issue of immunisation in the country following the polio outbreak last year which resulted in 26 confirmed polio cases that quickly spread to nine provinces.
PNG has one of the lowest immunisation coverage, plateauing around 60 per cent for more than a decade, and with only less than 50 per cent of all children completing their vaccination by their first birthday.
Immunisation must always be applied at every opportunity at every part of the country by everyone and is the most cost-effective health intervention.
Expanding access to immunisation is vital for achieving the sustainable development goals, poverty reduction and universal health coverage.
Routine immunisation provides a point of contact for healthcare at the beginning of life and offers every child the chance at a healthy life from the earliest beginnings and into old age.
Immunisation is also a fundamental strategy in achieving other health priorities – from controlling viral hepatitis, to curbing antimicrobial resistance, and providing a platform for adolescent health and improving antenatal and newborn care.
Though vaccines have eradicated many lethal childhood diseases, those diseases can come roaring back if we don’t maintain an immunisation rate of about 90 per cent or higher.
They help protect vaccinated individuals as well as entire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of infectious diseases.
In order for everyone, everywhere to survive and thrive, PNG must build up all efforts to ensure all people receive the lifesaving benefits of vaccines.
Immunisation protects future generations.
Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled people just a few generations ago.
If we continue vaccinating now, and vaccinating completely, parents in the future may be able to trust that some diseases of today will no longer be around to harm their children in the future.