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Immunization ‘Plus’

Procurement value (vaccines + auto-diable syringes + cold chain equipment + vitamin A): $502.4 million

Immunization is essential to save children’s lives. While every year more than two million children die from vaccine-preventable diseases, immunization still protects nearly three-quarters of the world’s children against major childhood illnesses.

The procurement of vaccines and related supplies remains the bulk of UNICEF’s procurement activities. In 2005, the total value of procurement for Immunization ‘Plus’ represented $502.4 million, with $439 million spent on vaccines, $53 million spent on safe injection supplies and cold chain equipment, and $10.4 million worth of vitamin A. The procurement of Oral Polio Vaccines (OPV) reached a historical high in 2005 with 2.1 billion doses purchased by Supply Division in support of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

In 2005, UNICEF supplied 168 million doses of measles vaccines to countries around the world, of which about 60 per cent were used in campaigns pursuing the Measles Mortality Reduction strategy.

UNICEF continues to promote vaccine security by working closely with manufacturers to ensure a reliable supply of vaccines and with governments to assess their vaccine requirements.