Advancing Sustainable Development Goals through Immunization: A Literature Review

Immunization directly impacts health (SDG3) and brings a contribution to 14 out of the 17 SDGs, such as ending poverty, reducing hunger, and increasing equity. Therefore, immunization is recognized to play a central role in reaching the SDGs, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, the immunization-related indicators for SDG3 lag behind in sub-Saharan Africa, despite continuous interventions to strengthen immunization systems and to adequately respond with emergency immunization during epidemics. The current performance on the connected SDGs is both a cause and a result of this. We conduct a literature review to construct a cross-sectoral system map of driving mechanisms behind infectious disease threats from both a Public Health and a Planetary Health perspective, and we position these drivers against the SDGs. Challenges for sustainable control of vaccine-preventable diseases are identified, and model-based approaches that support SDG-promoting interventions concerning immunization systems are analyzed in the light of the strategic priorities of the Immunization Agenda 2030. It can be concluded that relevant future research in humanitarian operations requires (i) design for system resilience,(ii) transdisciplinary modeling,(iii) connecting interventions in immunization with SDG outcomes, (iv) designing interventions and their implementation simultaneously, (v) offering tailored solutions, and (vi) model coordination of services and partnerships. The operations management community is called upon to activate existing knowledge and generate new insights and decision-supporting tools for LMIC health authorities and communities to leverage immunization in its transformational role toward successfully meeting the SDGs in 2030.