Expanded Program on Immunization in the Americas: 40 years

Childhood immunization programs have had a dramatic impact on child morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Latin America and the Caribbean, nearly 174 000 deaths were prevented through vaccination of children under 5 years of age in 2006 – 2011 in Latin America and the Caribbean according to Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) estimates. In 1974, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI); and in 1977, PAHO, the WHO Regional Office for the Americas, launched its own EPI. In 1978, a Resolution was approved by the Pan American Sanitary Conference, establishing the working capital for the PAHO Revolving Fund operations. The PAHO Revolving Fund—a mechanism facilitating pooled vaccine procurement—was created based on principles of Pan-American solidarity, equitable access to high quality vaccines, and transparency. Under the stellar leadership of Dr. Ciro A. de Quadros, the PAHO EPI became the flagship of the Organization.