Global Immunization Division (GID)

Immunization is considered the first line of public health defense and one of the most efficient and cost-effective public health interventions in the world.

The Global Immunization Division (GID) of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides scientific, technical, and programmatic expertise globally to help strengthen routine immunization systems and meet national goals for controlling or eradicating vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) such as polio and measles.

Today, more than ever before, the health of U.S. citizens is linked to outbreaks of diseases in other countries. Infectious diseases know no boundaries, especially in a world where international travel is so common. When epidemics occur anywhere on earth, the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) to the United States is only a plane flight away.

A high level of vaccination coverage in a population group can interrupt the transmission and spread of VPDs by reducing the proportion of people who are susceptible to infection. The direct and indirect protection afforded by an effective national immunization program decreases the potential for VPDs to spread to other countries. Global efforts to achieve high immunization coverage can protect all countries, including the United States, against disease. Supporting global immunization efforts also helps to fulfill the U.S. government’s broader commitment to global health.

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Global Immunization Strategic Framework 2011–2015

This strategic framework outlines the vision, mission, goals, objectives, and strategies of CDC and its global partners for effectively meeting worldwide immunization targets from 2011 through 2015. Achieving adequate vaccination coverage by 2015 will require CDC and its global partners to work closely and effectively to accomplish the six overarching goals outlined in the plan.

• Goal 1: Control, eliminate, or eradicate targeted VPD disability and death globally
• Goal 2: Strengthen capacity and enhance performance of health systems to sustainably deliver routine immunization services
• Goal 3: Strengthen VPD health information and surveillance systems to enhance decision-making capacity for immunization programs
• Goal 4: Increase the appropriate development, introduction, and use of new and underused vaccines to prevent diseases of global and regional public health importance
• Goal 5: Promote synergies between immunization and other public health interventions to strengthen health systems and contribute to decreased maternal and child mortality and morbidity
• Goal 6: Build and strengthen partnerships that maximize coordination and synergy in meeting immunization goals

This new framework is linked to the 2010 National Vaccine Plan. The National Vaccine Plan lays out key domestic strategies and sets U.S. vaccination targets for 2011–2020. It includes a specific goal area on global immunization because of the important links between the U.S. and international programs. The plan spells out the roles of all HHS agencies and defines a broad framework for contributions by U.S. academic institutions and other partners that may enhance global vaccination efforts.

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GID Organization

GID is composed of the Office of the Director and two Branches. Each of these organizational units performs highly specialized work to support global vaccine-preventable disease efforts.

Click an organization below for more information.

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Global Partners

Given the scope and intensity of global health challenges, no single country or agency can overcome them alone. To help meet shared global health objectives, CDC works closely with a wide array of international partner agencies and institutions to shape global health policies and to fund, implement, and evaluate programs. CDC’s partners include ministries of health, international and multinational organizations, other U.S. federal government agencies, public–private partnerships, private foundations, universities, and global health organizations. To learn more about GID’s global partners, click here.

Global Vaccination Programs

GID provides scientific and technical support to ministries of health and other public and private partners to control vaccine-preventable diseases around the world, including:

• Polio Eradication
• Measles Elimination
• Rubella
• Rotavirus
• Pneumococcal disease
• Meningococcal disease
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)

Global Health Initiative (GHI)

The GHI is a 6-year initiative of the U.S. government that began in 2009 to focus attention on broad global health challenges such as maternal and child health, family planning, and neglected tropical diseases. While maintaining funding for and commitment to high-profile infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, it fosters a more integrated approach to improving health and health systems. Immunization strategies remain an important part of the GHI—especially in the area of maternal and child health—and help emphasize the importance of closely linking U.S. government agency health programs at the country level. GID provides technical and programmatic assistance to the GHI in the areas of strengthening national immunization efforts, eradicating polio, and reducing mortality related to measles, rubella, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Learn more about Global Health Initiative.

Decade of Vaccines (DOV)

Inspired by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s generous contributions to global immunization, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and other global immunization partners proclaimed 2011–2020 as the Decade of Vaccines. GID is contributing to this initiative by providing key input to the DOV strategic document and global plan of action. This initiative will increase previous immunization targets outlined in the WHO/UNICEF Global Immunization Vision and Strategy, 2006–2015 by

• Strengthening public support for vaccine use and financing.
• Expanding the reach of delivery programs.
• Maintaining a strong pipeline for vaccine research and development.
• Exploring strategies for ensuring global access to sufficient supplies of affordable vaccines.

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