Immunization

A child receiving a vaccine
WHO Viet Nam
A child receiving a vaccine

Immunization is the process whereby a person is made resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. Vaccines stimulate the body's own immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or disease.

Immunization today saves up to 3 million lives a year, but millions of people still do not have access to basic immunization and die from diseases that can be prevented by available vaccines.

General information

Latest news and press releases

Partners and links

Prevention, treatment and awareness

Publications and documents

State of the world's vaccines and immunization. Third edition

  • Immunization summary
    This reference book, jointly produced by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), presents detailed statistics on the performance of national and district-level immunization systems in 194 countries and territories. It provides an overview of key aspects, including: demographical information, vaccination coverage rates, Immunization schedule as well as meales control activities.

Highlighted publications

World health statistics 2013
  • World Health Statistics 2013
    World Health Statistics 2013 contains WHO’s annual compilation of health-related data for its 194 Member States, and includes a summary of the progress made towards achieving the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and associated targets.
Global report on the status of road safety 2013
  • Global status report on road safety 2013
    The Global status report on road safety 2013 presents information on road safety from 182 countries, accounting for almost 99% of the world’s population. The report indicates that worldwide the total number of road traffic deaths remains unacceptably high at 1.24 million per year.
  • Atlas of health and climate
    The Atlas of health and climate is a product of this unique collaboration between the meteorological and public health communities. It provides sound scientific information on the connections between weather and climate and major health challenges.
WPSAR cover