WHO to enhance immunization drive

WHO Press Release


WHO to enhance immunization drive

MANILA , 25 April 2011—The World Health Organization (WHO) is stepping up efforts to ensure that more people in the Western Pacific Region, especially children and women, are protected from disease by immunization.

The Regional Office for the Western Pacific today launched its Regional Vaccination Week, joining the WHO Regions for Africa, the Americas , the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe .

While there has been significant progress in improving immunization rates in the Western Pacific, much remains to be done. Millions of children in the Region are still not adequately immunized, which puts their lives at risk from vaccine-preventable diseases, WHO said.

All of the WHO Member States in the Western Pacific Region are also signatories to the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Among other targets, the MDGs seek to reduce by two thirds the under-5 mortality rate in children, and the maternal mortality ratio by three quarters, between 1990 and 2015. Achieving and maintaining high immunization coverage against vaccine- preventable diseases is an important strategy for achieving these MDGs.

For the full version of the press release, click on: http://www.wpro.who.int/media_centre/press_releases/pr_20110425.htm

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