Political, economic, and administrative resources available for the control of vaccine-preventable diseases

The harnessing of broad social mobilization with immunization appears to be the only feasible way of controlling the vaccine-preventable diseases and of achieving universal immunization by 1990. Burkina Faso, Colombia, Nigeria, Syria, and Turkey have marshalled national forces to assist the health sector, with the result that sizeable gains in immunization have been made in the past three years. In these countries effective use has been made of the personal involvement of top political leaders, beginning with presidents and prime ministers. The media has been used to deliver a single message: get your child vaccinated. This message has been reinforced through coalitions involving religious leaders, primary teachers, village heads, policemen, soldiers, and truck drivers. Support has been gathered from nongovernmental organizations and individuals, ranging from Rotary International to actors, comedians, and sports figures. These political, economic, and administrative resources constitute a low-cost, elastic, permanently renewable resource base that can aid health ministers not only in beginning immunization coverage but also in maintaining it.