The Work of Who in the Western Pacific

3 E Programme on Immunization. EPI continued to see significant progress in the Western Pacific Region over the past year. There were important gains in maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination, with Viet Nam achieving elimination status in 2005. In addition, the Region continues to be free of poliomyelitis. The decision taken at the fifty-sixth session of the Regional Committee for the Western Pacific in September 2005 to endorse the twin regional goals of measles elimination and hepatitis B control by 2012 provided fresh impetus to those programmes. In addition, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea and Tonga have introduced or are planning to introduce the Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine in their national immunization programmes, bringing the total number of countries and areas in the Region using Hib vaccine to 18. Poliomyelitis. The Region has maintained polio-free status despite the increased risk of the importation of wild polioviruses. Major surveillance indicators have met WHO requirements. The quality of acute flaccid paralysis surveillance and immunization activities has remained stable for the past five years in most countries and areas. In addition, the Region is now better prepared to rapidly detect and appropriately respond to an importation of wild poliovirus or a circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses. Efforts are continuing to complete and document the quality of Phase I laboratory containment of wild polioviruses in the Region.