In May 2012, the World Health Assembly approved the Global Vaccine Action Plan 2011-2020 (GVAP), which aims to achieve the vision of all individuals and communities enjoying lives free from vaccine-preventable diseases1. The plan proposed five overall goals: 1) Achieve a world free of poliomyelitis, 2) meet vaccination coverage targets in every region, country, and community, 3) exceed the Millennium Development Goal 4 target for reducing child mortality, 4) meet global and regional elimination targets, and 5) develop and introduce new and improved vaccines and technologies.
By 2020, most global and regional immunization targets outlined in the GVAP were not achieved, and one-fifth of children worldwide still lack access to vaccines recommended by the WHO. Consistently low immunization coverage has led to outbreaks containing viruses such as measles and vaccine-derived polio.
Immunization Agenda 2030: A Global Strategy (IA2030)
To make greater progress in immunization, the 73rd World Health Assembly in 2020 developed a follow-up strategy — Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) to draw lessons from the Global Vaccine Action Plan and provide a long-term strategic framework for emerging challenges and the evolving global environment. The IA2030 proposes a vision that everyone, everywhere, at every age, fully benefits from vaccines for good health and well-being. It also establishes three impact goals: 1) reducing mortality and morbidity from vaccine-preventable diseases throughout the life course, 2) leaving no one behind by increasing equitable access and use of new and existing vaccines, and 3) ensuring good health and well-being for everyone by strengthening immunization within primary health care and contributing to universal health coverage and sustainable development. Introducing pediatric combination vaccines, particularly the higher valent ones, will help reduce the disease burden, increase immunization coverage, and promote vaccine equity.
Gavi supported programs
Gavi has been providing pentavalent vaccines to children in the world’s least developed countries, simultaneously immunizing them against five diseases: pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b. Gavi hopes to increase vaccination rates of hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b by reducing the number of doses through the pentavalent vaccine introduction program. In addition to the pentavalent vaccines, Gavi has also launched the monovalent measles vaccine, measles, and rubella vaccine, and inactivated polio vaccine to improve global immunization coverage.
Beginning December 1, 2023, countries eligible for Gavi support may apply to switch to the hexavalent vaccine (DTaP-HepB-Hib-IPV) from the pentavalent vaccine (DTaP-Hib-IPV). Countries may switch to hexavalent vaccines or continue using pentavalent and inactivated polio vaccines (IPV). Gavi will provide technical assistance in evaluating the impact of the transition regarding financing, logistics, and the immunization schedule and help the country choose the most suitable regimen for the country’s situation. The hexavalent vaccine is expected to help countries prevent all six diseases more efficiently and cost-effectively, as well as reduce program challenges due to multiple injections, among other expected program benefits2.
Gavi plans to support the use of combination vaccines (Hexavalent vaccine) and Multivalent Meningococcal Conjugate (MMCV) during Gavi 6.0 (2026-2030). At the same time, accelerating access to new, affordable, and effective vaccines and delivering innovations will continue to be a core part of the marketing shaping agenda in the new strategic cycle. In addition, Gavi will continue to evaluate and invest in innovative life-saving vaccines and accelerate access to vaccines of great health impact3.
Content Editor: Siqi Jin
Page Editor: Ziqi Liu
Reference
- World Health Organization. Global Vaccine Action Plan 2011-2020. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/global-vaccine-action-plan-2011-2020. Accessed April 02,2023.
- Gavi. Hexavalent vaccine programme information. https://www.gavi.org/our-support/guidelines/hexavalent-vaccine-programme-information. Accessed Nov. 17th, 2024.
- Gavi. Annex B: Narrative for Gavi 6.0, the Alliance’s 2026 – 2030strategy. https://www.gavi.org/our-alliance/strategy/phase-6-2026-2030#documents
