What CDC is Doing in Global Immunization
Updated March 24, 2022
CDC’s Global Immunization Division (GID) works to build global immunization program capacity and scientific expertise to prevent and advance the control, elimination, and eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD). GID works with U.S and global partners to:
Promote Equity by:
- Finding and vaccinating persistently missed children and other underserved populations
- Supporting new vaccine introduction against diseases that are high burden
Prevent Disease by:
- Helping countries achieve global control, elimination, and eradication targets for high burden VPDs
- Reducing large or disruptive VPD outbreaks
Build Strong Immunization Programs that:
- Deliver immunizations to all children and adults
- Strengthen the delivery of other public health interventions
GID is Dedicated to Ensuring That Everyone, Everywhere, Shares in the Benefits of Immunizations
Establishing and sustaining essential immunization services to deliver vaccines across the life course is critical to advancing health equity, in the U.S. and around the world. CDC’s global immunization mission helps improve vaccine equity, a pillar for strengthening global health security, to reduce VPD-death, disease, and disability and protect Americans where they live, work, and play.
Through global engagement, CDC:
- Innovates to speed the availability and deployment of new vaccines and diagnostics
- Develops and implements vaccine strategies to prevent transmission and disease
- Develops surveillance, laboratory, and other immunization program capacities to detect and respond to outbreaks
- Sustains immunization program capacity to ensure adequate resources and workforce, evidence-based decision making, and immunization safety systems that protect domestic and global populations
CDC Focuses on Countries with the Highest Burden of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
GID’s focus on priority countries helps CDC guide investments to save and improve the most lives through vaccination.
Tier 1 countries account for more than:
- 55% of unvaccinated children who are most at risk for VPD-related death, disease, and disability globally
- 75% of measles deaths, the leading contributor to VPD-related childhood deaths worldwide
In Tier 2 countries, there are high numbers of unvaccinated children, and these countries are critical to achieving global vaccine-preventable eradication, elimination, or control targets.
Tier 1 countries: Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines. These countries account for 55% of unvaccinated children and 75% of measles deaths.
Tier 2 countries: Angola, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Iraq, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, Viet Nam, Yemen. These countries have high numbers of unvaccinated children.
Immunization programs can most effectively prevent death, disease, and disabilities when national vaccine coverage rates are high, sustained, and reach at-risk populations across the life course. CDC global immunization experts help improve vaccination coverage by working to strengthen immunization systems, identify under and unimmunized populations, remove barriers to immunization, and support vaccination and resources, through global immunization partnerships, to populations at risk.
Learn more about CDC’s Global Immunization Strategic Framework.
