Susan Campbell identifies the interventions needed to improve and sustain immunisation programmes

While the impact of immunisation on childhood mortality and morbidity has been great, its full potential has yet to be reached (United States Agency for International Development (USAID) 2003). For this to happen, global, national and district level strategies need to be developed further to increase the uptake of immunisation and to introduce new vaccines to the routine immunisation programmes, particularly in developing countries. The identification of the reasons for low coverage rates is essential. This highlights whether populations are unreached or have dropped-out of the programme. Although focusing on developing countries, these strategies are relevant for both developed and developing countries to improve immunisation coverage rates. This article highlights the growing divide in access to vaccines and immunisation, and warns of the global consequences of failure to sustain investments in immunisation in developing countries (World Health Organization (WHO)/UNICEF/World Bank 2002).