Immunization financing
In the developing world, the cost of immunizing a child ranges from US$20 to $40, including basic vaccine coverage and administration costs. However, in 2007, 985 million people—mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia—lived on less than $1 a day. This extreme poverty makes paying for vaccines nearly impossible despite their proven cost-effectiveness. As a result, immunization financing is a critical tool for providing access to lifesaving vaccines to those who need them most.
View resources on immunization financing
Key resources
Case Study on the Costs of Financing of Immunization Services in Ghana (2001)
A
study that estimates the current and future costs of Ghana's immunization program, including the additional costs proposed for improvements to the program.
Investing in Vaccines for Developing Countries: How Public-Private Partnerships Can Confront Neglected Diseases (2009)
A commentary on
the barrier of vaccine price on sustainable immunization programs in developing countries.
Estimating the Costs of Achieving the WHO-UNICEF Global Immunization Vision and Strategy, 2006-2015 (2008)
Cost estimates for scaling up childhood immunization services required to reach the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Global Immunization Vision and Strategy goal of reducing mortality due to vaccine-preventable diseases by two-thirds by 2015.
Immunization Financing
A section of the WHO website that provides an overview of immunization financing issues, with links to relevant documents and organizations.
Page last updated: November 2009.
