The South African Expanded Programme on Immunisation schedule

Abstract

The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) was introduced by the WHO in 1974 with the aim of vaccinating all children below the age of one year against six killer diseases. Since then, new vaccines against other severe vaccine-preventable diseases have been developed. South Africa is in the fortunate position to be able to include many of these new options into the national EPI and to adjust the EPI schedule according to the disease epidemiology of the country. The rationale behind some of these additions and changes to the national EPI is discussed.