The Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) of the World Health Organisation recommends that all children be immunised against these infections. It aims to provide free immunisation for children against the important childhood infections.
EPI was started in 1974. It was called ‘expanded’ as measles and polio vaccines were added to BCG and DPT, and the number of children immunised in developing countries was greatly increased. The purpose of EPI is to prevent the childhood diseases for which vaccines exist, to provide high quality vaccines, and surveillance of these diseases.