General information
Over the past 20 years, immunization has prevented approximately 20 million deaths from vaccine-preventable infections. Innovative technology solutions that help to ensure vaccine effectiveness, efficiency, safety, and storage are enabling immunization programs to save even more lives. Without vaccines, as well as safe and effective vaccine distribution systems and delivery practices, disease would become more rampant, the public health system would be overburdened with treatment costs, and deaths—particularly in children—would increase dramatically. Immunization is therefore a valuable tool for protecting health, enhancing economic security and political stability, and saving lives.
View resources on general information
Key resources
The Immunization Gateway: Your Vaccine Fact Finder
A website that has a comprehensive list of links to information about immunization.
The Initiative for Vaccine Research: Strategic Plan 2010 - 2020 (2010)
A document that outlines current and future plans, objectives, and milestones for the department dedicated to vaccines and immunization at the World Health Organization.
Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries, Second Edition (2008)
A book that provides a multidisciplinary understanding of fundamental issues and challenges, and effective interventions for the range of communicable and noncommunicable diseases including the use of vaccines.
Featured PATH resources
Global Access to Lifesaving Vaccines (2011)
A fact sheet that describes PATH's work in vaccines and immunization.
The Cornerstone of Public Health (2009)
A fact sheet that makes the case for why vaccines are a critical, cost-effective investment for improving global health and saving children's lives.
A History of Vaccines (2009)
A fact sheet on the history of vaccines that gives a brief overview of disease rates before and after the development of vaccines.
Page last updated: October 2011.
