Some 1.4 million children die each year from diseases that could be prevented by vaccination, says a UNICEF report issued on September 30. It says a one in four infant is still at risk from vaccine-preventable diseases. Each year, 27 million children are not properly immunised.
UNICEF's latest edition of 'Progress for Children' is a report on immunisation, complements the work done with partners like the World Health Organisation (WHO).
UNICEF and WHO launched a new Global Immunisation Vision and Strategy in May that will align immunisation programmes with other health sectors.
The report finds that children who are immunised against measles are more likely also to be immunised against other vaccine-preventable diseases - saving millions of children's lives each year.
The report uses measles mortality reduction as a measure in whether countries are meeting immunisation goals. Measles is one of the deadliest killers among vaccine-preventable diseases. But progress has been made in reducing the number of child deaths.
It confirms that 103 countries and territories had already achieved 90 per cent protection against measles among children under one year of age by 2003. It projects that, of 90 countries that did not achieve this level of coverage: 16 countries are likely to achieve it by 2010; 55 will require improvements to achieve it by 2010; and 19 need to reverse declining coverage.
Stating that immunisation is vital and cost-effective, it adds that "Immunisation is currently preventing an estimated two million deaths among children under five every year."
UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman says: "Immunisation is one of the safest and most cost-effective interventions we know. We need to protect the gains we have made in many countries and expand our efforts in others."