Status of New Vaccine Introduction — Worldwide, 2016–2021

Abbreviations: DTPCV4 = first booster dose of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis–containing vaccine; HepB-BD = universal hepatitis B vaccine birth dose; Hib = Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine; HPV = human papillomavirus vaccine; MCV2 = second dose of measles-containing vaccine; PCV = pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; RCV = rubella-containing vaccine; RV = rotavirus vaccine; WHO = World Health Organization.
*Vaccine introduction data for DTPCV4 was unavailable for 2016. For all other vaccines, no value indicates no introductions occurred for that year.
^†Year WHO recommended inclusion of vaccine in all national routine immunization programs.
^§In 2017, WHO revised its DTPCV booster recommendations, shifting the first booster dose of tetanus to the second year of life to align with the recommendation for the first booster dose of pertussis. Countries reporting inclusion of DTPCV4 in this table might provide it at any age.
^¶HPV was originally recommended as a 3-dose schedule for girls aged 9–13 years in 2009 and updated to a 2-dose schedule recommendation in 2014 for girls aged 9–14 years; an alternative single-dose schedule was recommended in 2022 for girls aged 9–14 years.
**In 2000, WHO recommended introduction of RCV in countries where it can be safely introduced.

Authors and Disclosures

Gurpreet Kaur, MD^1,2, Rebecca M. Casey, MBBS², Jaymin C. Patel, PhD², Paul Bloem, MBA³, Jenny A. Walldorf, MD³ and Terri B. Hyde, MD<sup>2

1</sup>Epidemic Intelligence Service, CDC; ²Global Immunization Division, Center for Global Health, CDC; ³Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Corresponding author
Gurpreet Kaur, tqz0@cdc.gov.

All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

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Summary

What is already known about this topic?

The global Immunization Agenda 2021–2030 (IA2030) aims to increase equitable access to and use of new and existing vaccines. The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread disruption to routine immunization services.

What is added by this report?

By 2021, 17% of countries worldwide provided all eight World Health Organization–recommended new and underutilized vaccines in their routine immunization schedules. The number of new vaccines added to a national immunization program declined sharply at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, from 48 in 2019 to 15 in 2020.

What are the implications for public health practice?

To achieve IA2030 targets, increased efforts to accelerate introductions of new and underutilized vaccines are urgently needed to facilitate equitable access, including to vaccines delivered beyond the first year of life.