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The partnership between countries and the international community has played a decisive role in the achievement of immunization goals in the Western Hemisphere. The focus of this partnership has been to support country efforts to build robust and equitable national immunization programs that can effectively control vaccine-preventable infectious diseases and respond to emergency epidemics as these arise. The legacy of this joint collaboration is a Region with the world's lowest morbidity and mortality rates from vaccine-preventable diseases and one of the largest and most sophisticated network embracing countries, civil society, nongovernmental organizations, bilateral and multilateral organizations, the scientific community, and the private sector.
The proven impact of national immunization programs in the Americas in reducing poor health due to vaccine-preventable diseases has placed immunization goals prominently on the global agenda for sustainable development and poverty reduction. The Region remains a pioneer in generating valuable knowledge and experience in the use of strategies and tactics which continue to benefit immunization programs worldwide. Breakthroughs include critical knowledge in improving managerial capabilities and accountability of public health staff responsible for immunization programs at the national and sub-national levels, even in countries undergoing political and economic hardship.
The EPI Newsletter, now Immunization Newsletter, established in 1979, has chronicled the history of the successful partnership between the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), national immunizations programs, and the international community, beginning at a time when vaccination coverage for children under the age of 1 year old barely reached 25%-30% for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, and tuberculosis, to today's coverage of over 90%. The EPI Newsletter has documented PAHO's critical work with countries in establishing an adequate surveillance, services delivery, and diagnostic infrastructure, and in ensuring the utilization of quality vaccines and the presence of regional production capacity for vaccines of public health importance. Likewise, it has highlighted PAHO's work with its Members States in the achievement of broad-based community and public-private partnerships that continue to bring us closer to realizing the goal of equitable vaccination.
Immunization programs in the Region are now responding to the rapid technological changes in the field of vaccination brought about by the development of new generations of vaccines of public health importance. These vaccines have the potential to simplify immunization delivery, improve the performance of existing vaccines, and protect against other vaccine-preventable diseases. However, this new breed of vaccines is considerably more costly calling for heightened cooperation among public and private partners alike.
I congratulate the Immunization Newsletter for its efforts to keep us abreast of important milestones achieved by the countries of this Region in partnership with the international community and urge it to continue its strategic role of sharing critical information and knowledge that will enable immunization programs throughout the world to face the challenges that lie ahead.
Socorro Gross-Galiano
Assistant Director
Pan American Health Organization