About the program area

While the history of immunization goes back to two hundred years, the impact and importance of immunization in the prevention of disease is increasing as the number of vaccines administered to children increases.  In fact the number of routinely administered vaccines have more than doubled in the past thirty years with the greatest increase occurring in the past two decades. In addition the success of immunization has been so great as to lead to total eradication of one disease (smallpox), and the almost successful eradication of another disease,, polio and control of many infectious diseases to almost total elimination in much of the world. In fact the proportionate decrease in the number of cases has exceeded 99% for most of the routinely administered vaccines in many regions.  Immunization is also one of the major interventions needed for achievement of the millennium development goals (MDG4). In many of the immunization activities, the pediatrician plays a central role where in much of the developed countries, the pediatrician serves as a vaccine provider. In developing countries where the number of pediatricians is more limited, the role of the pediatrician is one of advisor to parents, an advocate for vaccination and an overall expert whose opinion is valued by the family and the medical community. In order to fully exploit this role of the pediatrician and the pediatric association, the pediatrician is hence expected to be knowledgeable about the vaccine and vaccine preventable diseases in all aspects. This includes, preventable diseases, the different vaccines in routine use of children, their use, efficacy and effectiveness, the different vaccination schedules used all over the world and the vaccine adverse events associated with vaccines. Risk communication and education of parents about the merits of vaccines is also an emerging role for the pediatrician.