The what, why and when of childhood vaccination in South Africa – 2019
Abstract
The Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) was initiated in 1974 by the 27th World Health Assembly to ensure that all children in all countries benefit from lifesaving vaccines.1 Initial vaccination against six diseases – diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles and tuberculosis have grown from protecting around 5% of the world’s children in 1974 against these diseases to more than 80% in 2014.2 Today, immunisation remains the most cost-effective public health intervention available.3