The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), an initiative launched by the World Health Organization in 1974, stands as a global endeavor to ensure equitable access to life-saving vaccines for every child, regardless of their geographic location or socioeconomic status. Over the past five decades, the EPI has evolved and achieved remarkable milestones that reshaped the global health landscape.
The 50th anniversary of EPI in 2024 provides a pivotal occasion to celebrate the programme's achievements, highlight its impact on lives saved, and catalyze renewed efforts to strengthen routine immunization initiatives.
What is EPI?
Building on the momentum of the smallpox eradication effort, EPI was initiated with the goal of providing universal access to life-saving vaccines for children worldwide. This programme, which is now commonly referred to as the Essential Programme on Immunization, seeks to safeguard individuals of all ages through comprehensive immunization efforts. Today, every country has a national immunization programme, and vaccines are universally recognized as among the safest, most cost-effective, and successful public health interventions to prevent fatalities and enhance the quality of life.
