VACCINATION / IMMUNIZATION
Disease prevention is a major component of reducing child mortality, and immunization is a proven tool for controlling and even eradicating disease. Yet there are over 1.2 million children in Latin American who do not receive routine vaccinations before their first birthday. Vaccinating children interrupts transmission of disease to the rest of the population, such as Pneumococcus, the bacteria responsible for lethal diseases like pneumonia and meningitis, and otitis, which causes deafness. In Latin America alone, every hour two children die, and each year 1.6 million people develop diseases caused by this bacterium.
Immunization is considered among the most cost-effective health investments as there is a well-defined target group, contact with the health system is only needed at the time of delivery, and vaccination does not require any major change of lifestyle. In the United States, cost-benefit analysis indicates that every dollar invested in a vaccine dose saves up to $27 in health care expenses. Immunization visits are also viewed as an opportunity to distribute information about ECD programs and infant health to parents. The importance of universal immunization programs, both in terms of reducing childhood disease and providing opportunities for additional early childhood interventions, should not be underestimated.
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