The Regional Committee,
Noting resolution WPR/RC54.R3 to use measles elimination and hepatitis B control strategies as a means to strengthen the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and other public health programmes;
Recognizing the positive impact of poliomyelitis eradication in the Western Pacific Region on EPI and the wider health sector, as well as the serious challenges to the maintenance of polio-free status;
Mindful of the high burden of disease, disability and deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases, especially measles and hepatitis B;
Aware that this burden could be very significantly reduced by the use of available vaccines that are safe, effective and inexpensive;
Recognizing financial and operational challenges to measles elimination and hepatitis B control in some countries and areas as recognized in the 15th Technical Advisory Group recommendations,
- DECIDES that the Region should aim by 2012:
- (1) to eliminate measles;
- (2) to reduce the seroprevalence of HbsAg to less than 2% in five year-old children as an interim milestone towards the final regional goal of less than 1% HbsAg;
- URGES Member States:
- (1) to develop or strengthen national plans for measles elimination and hepatitis B control, as part of comprehensive multi-year plans for immunization services to enable achievement of the twin regional goals;
- (2) to regularly monitor the implementation of activities under measles elimination and hepatitis B control plans;
- (3) to maintain polio-free status by sustaining high-quality acute flaccid paralysis surveillance and high immunization coverage of polio vaccines;
- REQUESTS the Regional Director:
- (1) to further strengthen technical cooperation with Member States and seek the additional resources required to support country and area activities to achieve the measles elimination and hepatitis B control goals;
- (2) to report regularly to the Regional Committee on progress towards measles elimination and hepatitis B control.