EPI Expanded program on immunization | CHAPTER 7 | Microbiology & Parasitology for Nurses

EPI Expanded program on immunization – Basic microbiology, parasitology, and immunology; nature, reproduction, growth, and transmission of common microorganisms and parasites in Bangladesh; prevention including universal precaution and immunization, control, sterilization, and disinfection; and specimen collections and examination. Students will have an understanding of common organisms and parasites caused human diseases and acquire knowledge about the prevention and control of those organisms.

EPI Expanded program on immunization

WHO launched a global immunization programme known as EPI officially in May, 1974, to protect all children of the world against six vaccine preventable diseases Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Whooping cough, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis & Measles by the year 2000.aom In 1992-1993, Hepatitis-B was added to this’ list. The programme is now called universal child immunization (UCI).

Or

The Expanded Program on Immunization is a World Health Organization program with the goal to make vaccines available to all children

Objectives of EPI

• Decreased mortality & morbidity of infant or a child from six above mentioned disease
• Decreased disability from poliomyelitis
• Decreased maternal mortality c
• To prevent all the children from six mentioned disease.

EPI in Bangladesh and Its Policy

EPI in Bangladesh was formally launched on 7th April, 1979 the government of Bangladesh adopted the goal of UCI in 1985 and under this programme the following national EPI policies were developed.

• Immunize all children under 1 yr of age throughout the country.
• Immunize all women of child-bearing age including pregnant women throughout the country.
• Extend service delivery point upto the community to cover all target population.
• Involve community level health and family planning workers as vaccinators.

Present goal: EPI is committed to achieve the disease reduction goals which are

• Eradication of poliomyelitis.
• Elimination of neonatal tetanus.
• Reduction of measles incidence by 90% and measles mortality by 95% compared to pre- immunized period.

Strategies: Some strategies have been adopted to achieve these goals.

• Increase and sustain more than 90% routine immunization coverage of all antigens at all level.
• Implement National Immunization days to enhance polio eradication.
• Organize supplementary immunization activities for neonatal tetanus elimination and measles reduction through high risk approach,
• Strengthen AFP and EPI disease surveillance activities at all levels.

The strategies of EPI in Bangladesh:

• Increase and sustain more than 90% routine immunization coverage of all antigens at all levels.
• Implement National Immunization Days (NIDs) to enhance polio eradication.
• Organize supplementary immunization activities for neonatal tetanus elimination and measles reduction through high risk approach (MNT campaign).
• Strengthen AFP and EPI disease surveillance activities at all levels.

Classification of vaccines used in EPI

Live attenuated vaccine:

• Bacterial- BCG
• Viral- Oral polio
• Measles’

Toxoids: Tetanus toxoid (TT)

Extracted cellular fractions: Pneumococcal vaccine (PCV)

Combined: 

• Pentavalent vaccine (DPT + hepatitis-B + haemophilus influenza-B
• MR vaccine (measles + rubella)

Vaccines used in EPI

1. BCG Vaccine (For tuberculosis).

2. Oral Polio Vaccine.

3. Pentavalent vaccine (DPT + hepatitis-B + Haemophilus influenza-B).

4. Pneumococcal vaccine.

5. Measles Vaccine.

6. MR vaccine (measles + rubella).

Recent EPI Schedule in Bangladesh

Table 2: EPI immunization schedule of Bangladesh for women of child bearing age (15-49 years)

Disease which is Covered through EPI Vaccination

1. Tuberculosis

2. Diphtheria

3. Pertussis

4. Tetanus

5. Haemophilus Influenza

6. Pneumococcal Pneumonia

7. Hepatitis B

8. Poliomyelitis

9. Measles

10. Rubella

Nice to Know

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