Abstract:
Ethiopia has more than 4 decades of immunization history, launched EPI program with 6 antigens
in 1980 and now reached to 13 antigens including COVID 19 vaccine in the routine program.
The program has been expanded in the antigen portfolio as well as target population, becoming
life course intervention. Immunization has contributed significantly to the reduction of child and
infant morbidity, disability, and mortality in the country. The immunization program coverage has
been improved between 2000 to 2018. However, over the past 5 years the coverage is stagnated
and even in some place shows significant reduction as result of natural and manmade disasters
(conflict, drought and COVID 19 and others). In the year 2022, there are more than 1.1 million
estimated unvaccinated and under vaccinated children per cohort of a year. Ethiopia is ranked
nd
2 in number of zero dose children globally
