World Immunization Week 2015 will signal a renewed global, regional, and national effort to accelerate action to increase awareness and demand for immunization by communities, and improve vaccination delivery services.

This year’s campaign focuses on closing the immunization gap and reaching equity in immunization levels as outlined in the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP). The Plan - endorsed by the 194 Member States of the World Health Assembly in May 2012 ― is a framework to prevent millions of deaths by 2020 through universal access to vaccines for people in all communities.

Immunization is widely recognized as one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions. It prevents between 2 and 3 million deaths every year and now protects children not only against diseases for which vaccines have been available for many years, such as diphtheria, tetanus, polio and measles, but also against diseases such as pneumonia and rotavirus diarrhoea, 2 of the biggest killers of children under 5. Now adolescents and adults can be protected against life-threatening diseases such as influenza, meningitis, and cancers (cervical and liver), thanks to new and sophisticated vaccines.

Uzbekistan is considered as a pioneer in the CEE/ IS region in terms of introducing new vaccines. If in 2014 the country introduced use of rotavirus vaccines, in 2015 the country plans to add new vaccine to the national immunization calendar.

Uzbekistan confirms its adherence to the GVAP, which is directed at saving millions lives of people via introducing new vaccine and improving existing ones.