Comprehensive Family Immunization (IM)

The Comprehensive Family Immunization (IM) mission is to promote and coordinate technical cooperation and partnerships with the private and public sectors and the international community in support of countries' efforts to achieve sustainable and equitable reduction of morbidity and mortality of vaccine-preventable diseases through control and elimination strategies.

It assists countries in improving the performance of vaccination and surveillance programs and regional laboratory networks, as well as enhances country laboratory diagnostic capabilities.

It promotes the political priority and sustainability of vaccination programs through policy and legislation. Generates critical epidemiological data on disease burden and cost-effectiveness of interventions for decision making regarding current vaccination programs and new vaccine introductions. Ensures the orderly supply of quality vaccines through the PAHO Revolving Fund for Vaccine Procurement.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 26 October 2011 )

Recent Immunization News

(June) The ProVac International Working Group Begins Its First Country Study of the Two-Year Pilot Phase
Thanks to the recognized success of PAHO’s ProVac Initiative in coun-tries of the Americas, a ProVac International Working Group (IWG) was established to share ProVac tools and methodologies with other Regions. During the two-year pilot phase, this Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded project will serve as the platform through which ProVac tools and methodologies developed and implemented in PAHO-countries can be tested and adapted to other regional contexts. The ProVac IWG is con-formed of multiple partners. PAHO’s ProVac Initiative will serve as the secretariat and coordinating agency. Agence de Médecine Préventive (AMP) and PATH will serve as implementing agencies by providing direct technical assistance to country teams using ProVac’s tools and methods. They will provide support for cost-effectiveness evaluations of potential new vaccine introductions in three AFRO countries, two EMRO coun-tries, and two EURO countries and will hold a workshop in each of the before mentioned Regions.
(June) El Salvador’s EPI Survey Evaluates Routine Vaccination Coverage
On 6 June 2012, the results of a vaccination coverage survey were presented to the Minister of Health and other health officials in El Salvador. The survey was requested by El Salvador’s EPI, designed with support from the Pan American Health Organization and implemented in partnership with a local university with ex-perience in conducting (non-health related) surveys. A survey to assess vaccination coverage for vaccines recommended for children aged under two had been recommended during the country’s 2009 EPI evaluation, as problems detected for numerators and denominators were affecting administrative coverage calculation. The survey included 2,550 children aged 24-59 months at the time of the interview (Nov-Dec 2011) living in the five Health Regions of the country. The main objectives were to determine vaccination coverage for BCG; first, second and third dose of DTP-Hib-HepB and OPV; the first and second dose of Rotavirus; the first dose of MMR; and the first booster of DTP and OPV; to estimate vaccination timeliness, in relation to the recommended age; to compare survey coverage with administrative coverage; and to identify reasons for not having received some vaccines.