Global Vaccine Priorities

For over a decade, global immunization milestones were benchmarked by the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP). This framework was developed to achieve the Decade of Vaccines vision of delivering universal access to immunizations. While GVAP laid critical groundwork for global health cooperation, the evolving nature of public health challenges necessitated a more dynamic strategy. 

Today, global policy efforts are driven by the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030), which replaces the GVAP framework as the premier global blueprint for vaccines and immunizations. Rather than focusing on disease-specific landmarks, IA2030 is designed as a country-led strategy that embeds immunization within primary healthcare systems to anchor global health security and emergency preparedness. 

Now at the crucial mid-way point of the IA2030 timeline, global health partners and Member States gathering at the Seventy-ninth World Health Assembly (WHA79) explicitly reaffirmed their commitment to this framework, positioning robust immunization programs as the centerpiece for resilient health systems. Central to this mid-point strategy is a stark focus on health equity, specifically targeted at identifying and reaching “zero-dose” children: infants who have not received their foundational first dose of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis-containing vaccine (DTP1) by their first birthday. 

Translating this high-level political commitment into measurable equity requires scaling massive operational recovery campaigns. This is currently being demonstrated by the “Big Catch-Up” initiative, which has mobilized 24 priority countries in the African Region to reach approximately 9 million previously missed zero-dose children. By focusing on universal health coverage, localized school-based vaccination checks, and sustainable primary care integration, IA2030 ensures that the next phase of global health delivery shifts from temporary crisis response to permanent, equitable vaccine protection.