Comparative analysis of the national immunization programmes in select ASEAN and SAARC countries: progress and challenges

Overview

While low-income countries have received support on financing and delivery of immunization services from donors, many middle-income countries in Asia face challenges when introducing new WHO-recommended vaccines. None-the-less, most countries in the region have vaccine coverage rates of over 90%, although these are lower for human papillomavirus, pneumococcal conjugate, and rotavirus vaccines. This success is in part due to support from external funders such as Gavi but as countries graduate, they are finding it difficult to maintain these rats.