In honor of @WHO #WorldImmunizationWeek , we’re taking a look at the progress made in global vaccinations, and the work we still have left to do. #VaccinesWork

The word ‘vaccine’ comes from the cowpox virus vaccinia, first used in 1796 to create immunity against smallpox and leading to its eradication. Vaccinations have come a long way since then, and saved millions of lives. Read more about vaccine history https://www.historyofvaccines.org/timeline 

This week we’re highlighting vaccine coverage of measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, typhoid, and COVID-19, as well as research on vaccine confidence. Follow along!

"Vaccination is one of the mainstays for dealing with global health challenges and COVID has made that all the more clear."

Watch IHME Director Chris Murray speak on #WorldVaccinationWeek

A vaccine for measles was invented in the 1960s, but the disease still kills thousands every year, mostly children under 5 years old.

http://ihmeuw.org/5g8l 

Between 2000 and 2010, low- and middle-income countries had substantial increases in measles vaccine coverage. But since then, we’ve seen a slowdown in that progress, and in some countries even a reversal. Read in @nature.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-03043-4

For some countries, increasing coverage has come at the cost of increasing geographic inequality. Others, like India and Burkina Faso managed to increase their vaccine coverage while also reducing inequality between subnational regions. Read in @nature https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-03043-4

For countries that experienced reversals in measles vaccine progress, several factors could be at play: political instability and conflict, funding support and supply disruptions, and vaccine skepticism.

60% of low- and middle-income countries have seen overall increases in measles vaccine coverage since 2000, which deserves to be celebrated. Explore our dataviz https://vizhub.healthdata.org/lbd/mcv 

In recent years, high-income countries like the US have also seen resurgences in measles cases, fueled by vaccine hesitancy.

http://ihmeuw.org/5g7u 

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted measles immunization programs around the world and pumped the brakes on already-fragile progress.

By following examples like India’s successful @Vaccinate4Life launched in 2014, we can get measles vaccinations back on track and avoid thousands of preventable child deaths.

Read more https://imi3.nhp.gov.in/