Huffington Post: A Reality Check On the Global Vaccination Program
Utibe Effiong, physician, New Voices fellow at the Aspen Institute, and research scientist at the University of Michigan School of Public Health

“…[The 2015 Strategic Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE)] report rightly focuses on leadership and … accountability systems as two investment areas that can take the [Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP)] forward. But I believe that the factors highlighted in earlier SAGE reports — data quality, community involvement, and vaccine supply — are still important to meet vaccination targets in countries like Nigeria. … The challenges to improving health care quality, including information and communication technologies, need to be addressed with legislation, better standards, greater investment, and new infrastructure. … Accountability and transparency at all levels of the vaccine procurement and distribution mechanism will help ensure the right vaccines are available at the right time and place. The GVAP goal of freeing all children from vaccine-preventable diseases is an ambitious one. … With greater government commitment, it can be hoped that this lofty goal will soon become an achievement for all of humanity” (1/14).