After general hygiene improvements – first of all clean water supply – vaccines represent the most effective and cost-saving public health intervention. Still, vaccines continue to be under-used all over the world.
In developing countries money shortage and poor socio-economic situation are the main reasons for low vaccination coverage. In wealthy regions other factors usually affect immunisation programs. These factors are complex; false beliefs, ignorance, lack of advocacy are often on the basis of the failure of vaccination strategies.
Information and communication play key roles in such an issue. Improving knowledge about immunisation and confidence in vaccines among decision-makers, general public and health care workers remains a main goal to achieve in the fight against infectious diseases.
RELATED HEALTH TOPICS
2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic vaccines
General information about pandemic vaccines.
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an acute disease caused by toxin-producing strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae (in some cases also by Corynebacterium ulcerans) bacteria, that is known to colonise mucous membranes.
Haemophilus influenzae type b infection
Haemophilus influenzae serotype b (Hib) is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in children aged two months to five years, in those countries where suitable vaccination programmes are not in place.
Measles
Measles is an acute illness caused by morbillivirus. The disease is transmitted via airborne respiratory droplets, or by direct contact with nasal and throat secretions of infected individuals.
Meningococcal infection
Meningococcal infection is caused by Neisseria meningitidis, a bacterium with human carriers as the only reservoir.
Mumps
Mumps is an acute illness caused by the mumps virus. It is characterised by fever and swelling of one or more salivary glands (mumps is the only cause of epidemic infectious parotitis).
Pertusis
Pertussis is an acute bacterial infection of the respiratory tract caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The disease is characterised by a severe cough, lasting for two months or even longer.
Pneumococcal infection
Despite good access to effective antibiotics, Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococci) is still a major cause of disease and death in both developing and developed countries. Pneumococci are the main cause of bacterial respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia, middle ear infection, and sinusitis, in all age groups.
Poliomyelitis
Polio is caused by polioviruses, classified into types 1, 2 and 3. Humans are the only reservoir of infection: the poliovirus is found in the bowel and in the throat of infected individuals. Transmission occurs via the oral-faecal route or contact with saliva.
Rubella
Rubella is a mild febrile rash illness caused by rubella virus. It is transmitted from person to person via droplets (the virus is present in throat secretions). It affects mainly, but not only, children and when pregnant women are infected, it may result in malformation of the foetus. Humans are the only reservoir of infection.
Seasonal influenza vaccines
General information about seasonal influenza vaccines.
Tetanus
Tetanus is an often fatal disease, which is present worldwide. It is a consequence of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. The main reservoirs of the bacterium are herbivores, which harbour the bacteria in their bowels (with no consequences for them) and disseminate the “spore form” of the bacteria in the environment with their faeces.
Varicella infection (chickenpox)
Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which also causes shingles. The virus spreads through the body into the skin causing rashes to appear.