The second edition of Recent Advances in Immunization was launched in December 2006 during a press conference held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The new publication "provides the strategies and tactics to help us reach the goals of sustaining our immunization achievements and reaching the people who have not benefited from existing and new vaccines," according to Dr. Jon K. Andrus, Lead Technical Advisor with the Immunization Unit and one of the book's two editors.

Dr. Ciro de Quadros, Director of International Programs at the Sabin Vaccine Institute and the other editor, adds that the publication "is a very timely book with details on some new vaccines that haven't been introduced yet. We are witnessing great advances in science and technology but not all mankind is benefiting from them. We hope this book will help make these new technologies available."

The progress of immunization in the Region of the Americas has been extraordinary. However it has also been uneven. While diseases have been eradicated or eliminated, some countries still have a significant proportion of their populations living in districts where coverage remains below 95%, putting them at risk for outbreaks. In addition, countries must consider the introduction of new or underutilized vaccines (against pneumococcus, human papillomavirus, rotavirus, and influenza). Indeed, challenges remain that are driving immunization programs to move from child to family immunization.

Recent Advances in Immunization is intended to be a reference for national immunization managers and other health professionals such as public health, medicine, and nursing students, epidemiologists, and surveillance experts. The topics covered range from adolescent and adult immunization to combination vaccines for childhood immunization, optimal use of BCG vaccine, vaccination safety, interpretation of measles and rubella serology, preparing for the influenza epidemic, introduction of new and underutilized vaccines, and prophylactic human papillomavirus vaccines.

The publication was published in English but will also be translated into French, Portuguese, and Spanish. For more information on how to obtain a copy, please visit the PAHO Publication webpage.