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The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) was established by Resolution XXVII of the XXV Meeting of the Organization's Directing Council, in September, 1977. In May, 1979, the Program published the first issue of what was then called the "EPI Newsletter".
Introducing this PAHO periodical publication, the then Chief of the PAHO's Division of Disease Control, Dr. Luis Carlos Ochoa, stated that the newsletter was "created in response to the suggestions and recommendations of more then 130 nationals from all the Latin American countries that participated in the four regional EPI courses held from May 1978 to January 1979." He also stated that the purpose of the periodical publication was "to continue the process begun at these courses, of exchanging skills, knowledge and information relevant to the Expanded Program on Immunization in the Region of the Americas."
The publication, he stated "was intended to create a flow of information in the Region about all aspects of program implementation, from scientific articles on the target diseases and vaccination to practical matters of the day-to-day running of an immunization program."
And indeed, over the last 30 years this publication, now called "Immunization Newsletter" has maintained a high standard of scientific quality in all these aspects serving as one of the main vehicles of information to program managers and policy makers.
Most importantly, the newsletter has stimulated program officers, both at the country level as well as members of the EPI staff at PAHO, to strive to collect and analyze information relevant to program implementation and contribute with articles and news that most certainly have helped set and/or modify strategies relevant to the control and eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases in the Region of the Americas. It has also served as a forum for the discussion of issues and ideas that helped improve the quality national programs, as well as created an "esprit de corps" or group morale, among those involved with the program.
I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the entire staff of immunization programs throughout the Region and those at PAHO for the outstanding work that has been developed over these last 30 years, and that have been reflected in the quality of the publication.
Finally, I pay tribute to the Editors and Co-Editors that have followed after my tenure, as well as all the contributors to the various issues of the newsletter, for maintaining the same spirit that guided the launching of this important periodical publication.
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Ciro A. de Quadros, MD, MPH |