Importance of immunization programmes

Child with smallpox
This image shows a child with smallpox, a serious, contagious, and sometimes fatal infectious disease. The only prevention of smallpox is vaccination.

Each year, vaccines prevent 2 to 3 million deaths every year. An additional 1.5 million deaths could be avoided, however, if global vaccinationVaccinationInoculation with a vaccine for the purpose of inducing immunity. coverage improves.2

Why are vaccines so special?

Key point

Immunization reaches more people than any other health or social service and is a vital component of primary health care. It benefits individuals, communities, countries and the world. It is an investment in the future, as it saves lives and protects the heatlh of populations, improves countries' productivity and resilience and enables a safer, healthier, more prosperous world.6