A FRAMEWORK FOR THE EVALUATION OF VACCINES FOR USE IN THE EXPANDED PROGRAM ON IMMUNIZATION

Since 1974, tire Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has provided technical support for the immunization of the world's children and wo men of childbearing age. Today, the vast majority of vaccines administ ered to these groups are delivered through the immunization programmes that have been established in developing countries. As these national programmes share many characteristics, the global use of a new or imp roved vaccine could be largely dependent on its compatibility with the priorities, existing antigens and vaccine delivery system of this net work. Consequently, a framework has been developed for the systematic evaluation of candidate vaccines for use in EPI.