Vaccine-preventable diseases contribute to premature mortality and morbidity for children under age five in low- and middle-income countries. The global community committed to increasing coverage of vaccines during the Decade of Vaccines, 2010–20, to save lives and avert illness in the world’s poorest countries. In 2011 a collaboration of development assistance partners and governments resulted in the Global Vaccine Action Plan to provide sustainable financing and expand vaccine coverage to all children by 2020.
