Immunizing the children of the world: progress and prospects
Henderson, R.H.; Keja, J.; Hayden, G.; Galazka, A.; Clements, J.; Chan, C.
Bulletin of the World Health Organization 66(5): 535-543
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-9686 PMID: 3264762 Document Number: 374859
"The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) is already a major public health success. National immunization services are now providing some 50% of infants in developing countries with a third dose of either polio or DPT vaccines, thereby preventing each year about 200 000 children from becoming paralysed with poliomyelitis and over a million deaths from measles, neonatal tetanus and pertussis in these countries. EPI provides a compelling demonstration of what can be accomplished when there is unanimity of purpose. Such unanimity has been possible because the programme is inexpensive, easily understood, and relatively easy to implement, and because it brings immediate, highly visible benefits.