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Figure 1. Contributions and relevance of immunization to 14 of the 17 SDGs
Immunization plays a key role in
eliminating poverty, by reducing
treatment costs and increasing longer-
term productivity by averting losses due
to disability and death.
Immunization promotes a healthy
and productive workforce, which
contributes to the economy.
Immunization prevents diseases that
aect the most marginalized groups,
especially those in poor urban or remote
rural settings and in areas of conflict.
Immunization protects urban public
health and interrupts disease
transmission, ensuring sustainable
cities and communities.
Immunization is critical to building
people’s resilience to and mitigating
the risk of disease outbreaks linked to
climate change, such as yellow fever,
malaria, meningitis and cholera.
Eective, safe, people-centred health
systems are the backbone of social
institutions, and vaccination is often the
regular point of contact of the population
with the system.
Immunization programmes broaden
partnerships and multisectoral
approaches, ensuring that civil society,
communities and the private sector work
together towards common goals.
Vaccine manufacture contributes to
national industrial infrastructure in
low- and middle-income countries.
Immunization and nutrition go hand
in hand. Malnourished individuals,
especially children, are more likely to
die from infectious diseases such as
diarrhoea, measles and pneumonia.
Immunization increases educational
attainment, as it improves long-term
cognitive development. Children who are
immunized tend to attain more years of
schooling and score higher in cognitive
tests than those who are unvaccinated.
Removal of gender-related barriers
to vaccination contributes to gender
equality, as it supports women’s full
participation and equal opportunities for
accessing health services.
When vaccination is complementary to
clean water, sanitation and hygiene, it
prevents diarrhoeal diseases, which are
the leading cause of child mortality in
low-income countries.
Immunization logistics increasingly
involve use of cleaner, more sustainable
techniques based on solar and other
renewable sources of energy.
Vaccination is one of the most cost–
eective ways of saving lives and
promoting good health and well-being.
Source: reference 12