Immunization Agenda 2030

The UN agencies like WHO and UNICEF, with the support of countries and partners, have endorsed a new global vision and strategy, called the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030), to address the challenges with immunization and vaccines over the next decade and save over 50 million lives.

During World Immunization Week 2021, the United Nations and its various agencies had launched IA2030 with an aim to achieve the UN-mandated Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 3 i.e. Good Health and Well being. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded the world of the power of vaccines to fight disease, save lives, and create a healthier, safer, and more prosperous future. Moving forward, strong immunization systems will be needed to ensure that people everywhere are protected against COVID-19 and other diseases.

This is an important topic from the IAS Exam perspective and questions based on the objectives, strategy, significance and key aspects of IA2030 might be asked in the upcoming prelims examination. 

Immunization Agenda 2030 [UPSC Notes]:-Download PDF Here

Immunization Agenda 2030 – A Global Strategy to leave no one behind

• Goal: It envisions a world where everyone, everywhere, at every age, fully benefits from vaccines to improve health and well-being. It aims to maintain hard-won gains in immunization, recover from the disruptions caused by COVID-19, and achieve even more – by leaving no one behind, in any situation or at any stage of life.
• The IA2030 strategy is underpinned by four core principles:
  • People-focussed – The design, management and delivery of immunization services should be shaped by and responsive to the needs of individuals and communities, including addressing barriers to access to immunization services due to age, location, social and cultural norms and gender-related factors
  • Country-owned – Countries should establish targets that represent the local context and should be held accountable for achieving them
  • Partnership-based – Immunization partners should align and coordinate their actions to increase efficiency, build on complementarity and involve sectors beyond immunization for mutual benefit
  • Data-enabled – High-quality, “fit-for-purpose” data will be used to track progress, improve programme performance and form the basis of decision making at all levels
• IA2030 has been adapted from the learnings of the Global Vaccine Action plan (GVAP 2011-2020) that was developed to help realize the vision of the Decade of Vaccines

Read in detail about the Immunization Drive in India at the linked article. 

IA2030 – 7 Strategic Priorities

It is based on a conceptual framework of seven strategic priorities, to ensure that immunization fully contributes to stronger primary health care and attainment of universal health coverage. Discussed below are the seven strategic priorities:

• Immunisation for PHC/UHC – Effective, efficient and resilient immunisation services are accessible to all people as an essential part of primary health care, and thereby contribute to universal health coverage
• Commitment & Demand – Immunisation is valued and actively sought by all people, and health authorities commit to ensuring immunisation is available as a key contributor to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental right
• Coverage & Equity – Full protection of immunisation is realized by everyone regardless of location, age, sex, socioeconomic status, or gender-related barriers
• Life Course & Integration – All people benefit from recommended immunisations throughout the life course, effectively integrated with other essential health services
• Outbreaks & Emergencies – Immunisation programmes can:
  • anticipate, prepare for, detect, and rapidly respond to vaccine-preventable and emerging disease outbreaks
  • ensure immunisation service delivery during acute emergencies and among communities affected by conflict, disaster and humanitarian crisis
• Supply & Sustainability – All countries have a reliable supply of appropriate and affordable vaccines of assured quality and sustainable financing for immunisation programmes
• Research & Innovation – Innovations to increase immunisation programme reach and impact are rapidly made available to all countries and communities

There are different Types of Vaccines that can help a body gain immunity against a particular virus. Know about the different vaccines along with their composition and effects at the linked article.

  IA2030 Key Agendas

• Reduce mortality and morbidity from vaccine-preventable diseases for all across the life course
• Leave no one behind, by increasing equitable access and use of new and existing vaccines
• To achieve 90% coverage for essential vaccines given in childhood and adolescence
• Ensure good health and well-being for everyone by strengthening immunization within primary health care and contributing to universal health coverage and sustainable development
• The global agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and others have set a target of avoiding 50 million vaccine-preventable infections in this decade
• It also intends to reduce the number of zero-dose children by 50%, i.e., reducing the number of children who have received no vaccines through immunisation programmes

UPSC aspirants must also read about Intensified Mission Indradhanush, a Central Government programme to extend the routine immunisation program to all pregnant women and children who had missed it due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

IA2030 – Operational plans

The global strategy will become operational nationally, regionally and globally through its seven strategic priorities and four core principles:

• Nationally – The target must be National Health Planning. Countries will define their own targets and timelines to achieve the goals
• Regional vaccine action plans – Regional collaboration will involve stakeholders within and outside of immunization, to take advantage of synergies and promote integration
• Globally – Operationalization of the IA2030 vision and strategy will focus on those components that are best coordinated globally, with alignment among stakeholders

Global, regional and national goal- and target-setting should be:

• Aligned with the vision of IA2030
• Responsive to changing trends and conditions
• Aligned with broader health agendas (SDG3, primary health care and universal health coverage)
• Ambitious but achievable and measurable to ensure accountability
• Linked to action and a work plan
• Designed to reinforce previous commitments

Just as the battle against infectious diseases requires agile, flexible immunization programmes, a global vaccine and immunization strategy must also constantly adjust to changing needs and opportunities to respond to rapid shifts in disease epidemiology, technological advances, community needs, financial realities and political contexts.

Immunization Agenda 2030 [UPSC Notes]:-Download PDF Here

Get updated with the latest UPSC Syllabus for the prelims and mains examination and accordingly start your Civil Services preparation.

Visit BYJU’S for exam-related updates, study material and preparation tips.