Addressing the persistent inequities in immunization coverage

A key focus of the health-related sustainable development goal (SDG) 3 is universal health coverage (UHC), including access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and. However, the challenges to achieving UHC are substantial, especially with increased demands on the health sector and with most budgets being static or shrinking. programmes have been successful in reaching children. For example, 86% of the world’s infants had received three doses of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) in 2018. The experiences from such programmes can contribute to UHC, and as these programmes strive to adapt to new global strategic frameworks, such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance’s Gavi and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Immunization Agenda 2030, these efforts can inform progressive realization of UHC. Immunization programmes that can sustain regular levels of contact between health providers and beneficiaries at the community level have enabled new vaccines to be added to routine immunization schedules and other interventions to be delivered to children and their families. In addition, experiences from both polio campaigns and the child health days strategy show that incorporating additional interventions into campaigns can coverage of these interventions as well as of vaccinations.