Ethiopia's national childhood vaccination programme, launched in 1980 with an initial goal of reaching 100 percent immunization coverage of children under two by 1990, a target reset in 1986 to 75 percent coverage among children under one after progress proved slow. The programme began with six antigens covering BCG, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio and measles, and coverage remained low and erratic through the early 2000s, reflecting government transitions and the Ethiopia-Eritrea war, before the Reaching Every District and Sustainable Outreach Services approaches, introduced from 2003, brought steadier gains alongside the country's broader health extension programme. Ethiopia added a pentavalent vaccine combining protection against Haemophilus influenzae type b and hepatitis B to routine immunization in 2007, and introduced HPV vaccination and a second measles dose in 2018, expanding the schedule from 10 to 12 antigens; national basic vaccination coverage rose from 14.3 percent in 2000 to 44.1 percent in 2019.
Facts
Program StatusActive and ongoing, currently delivering twelve antigens through the routine immunization schedule 1 Sponsoring BodyFederal Ministry of Health of Ethiopia, coordinated through the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) and the Interagency Coordination Committee (ICC) 1 Target PopulationInfants and children for routine antigens; 14-year-old girls for HPV vaccination; children at 15 months for second-dose measles vaccine (MCV2) 1 Health GoalReduce morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases through routine and supplemental immunization 1 Geographic ScopeEthiopia, national programme 1 Measured ResultsRoutine immunization programme antigen count reached twelve, up from ten, following the 2018 introduction of HPV and second-dose measles vaccines 1 Program status (class) Classification
Program KindVaccination or Immunization Program 1 Connections
Delivers Practice
Entity-backed identity for the program-kind enum value this public health program already carries, resolved to a health practice by an explicit value-to-entity map (phase 3 bucket conversion, docs\design_entity_backed_browse_buckets_20260928.md). The program-kind fact itself stays on the program unchanged.
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Africa, found in there.
Sources
1. Ethiopia Ministry of Health - Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) Page
Federal Ministry of Health of EthiopiaMOH Ethiopia EPI page, background paragraph, sentence 2
Measurable achievements in terms of reducing morbidity and mortality associated with vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) have been documented since the national immunization program was commenced in Ethiopia since 1980 G.C.
MOH Ethiopia EPI page, background paragraph, sentence 2 (Ethiopia national programme)
Measurable achievements in terms of reducing morbidity and mortality associated with vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) have been documented since the national immunization program was commenced in Ethiopia since 1980 G.C.
MOH Ethiopia EPI page, background paragraph, sentence 3
With progressive introduction of new and under used vaccines, there has been remarkable achievements in reducing morbidity and mortality from vaccine preventable diseases and the total antigens in the routine immunization program has currently reached to twelve.
MOH Ethiopia EPI page, background paragraph, sentence 3 (twelve antigens)
With progressive introduction of new and under used vaccines, there has been remarkable achievements in reducing morbidity and mortality from vaccine preventable diseases and the total antigens in the routine immunization program has currently reached to twelve.
MOH Ethiopia EPI page, background paragraph, NITAG/ICC sentences
The country has established National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG), which is an independent body of experts to guide the program in the area of vaccine and vaccination. The Interagency Coordination Committee (ICC) has been in place for a long time and is instrumental in coordination and major decisions that were able to support partner coordination on EPI.
MOH Ethiopia EPI page, New vaccine introduction section, HPV/MCV2 sentence
The two new vaccines were added to the routine program against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) targeting 14-year-old girls and the second dose of measles vaccine (MCV2) at 15 months of age.
MOH Ethiopia EPI page, background paragraph, sentence 3 (current antigen count as status)
With progressive introduction of new and under used vaccines, there has been remarkable achievements in reducing morbidity and mortality from vaccine preventable diseases and the total antigens in the routine immunization program has currently reached to twelve.
MOH Ethiopia EPI page, page title
Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI)
Program classification, entity description sentence
Ethiopia's national childhood vaccination programme, launched in 1980 with an initial goal of reaching 100 percent immunization coverage of children under two by 1990, a target reset in 1986 to 75 percent coverage among children under one after progress proved slow.
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