Vaccines have been frequently cited as one of the most equitable low-cost, high-impact public health measures, saving millions of lives annually when programs are implemented on the national level. Over the last 40 years, the use of smallpox, measles, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and poliomyelitis vaccines have eradicated smallpox and eliminated disease in those populations that have achieved and sustained programs with high implementation rates. Although there are numerous licensed vaccines that could potentially benefit the African population, only those routinely used and potential vaccines with broad application on the horizon are covered in this chapter.
Copyright © 2006, The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank.