In 2000, world UN leaders met and established eight millenium goals that aimed to eradicate poverty, increase health standards, and promote education and gender equality. The fourth goal addresses children mortality and specifically targets the reduction of child morality rate by two thirds between 2000 and 2015. One strategy to accomplish this goal to expand immunization programs around the world.
Polio is a highly infectious viral disease that predominantly effects children under the age of five. One in 200 children that contract the disease become permanently paralyzed and roughly 10% of these individuals die due to complications. Since 1988, the disease has been nearly eradicated due global immunization efforts.
Use the map to the right to explore the rates of polio immunizations by country.
Use the dropdown menu to explore additional immunizations and the UN's progress towards decreasing child mortality worldwide.
MCV: Measles
Hep3: Hepatitis B
Hib3: Haemophilus Influenzae Type B
DTP: Diphtheria tetanus toxoid and pertussis
Data sources:
World Health Organization (2014): Global Health Observatory data repository