Global immunization programs have considerable impact on reducing child mortality and improving the lives of people everywhere. Public Health Reports is pleased to publish this special supplement presenting a comprehensive report from the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) on the contributions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) toward global immunizations. The NVAC provides recommendations and highlights priority areas for HHS to enhance the U.S. efforts toward preventing vaccine-preventable diseases worldwide. The analysis provided in the report is intended to build awareness and support for HHS activities, as they contribute overall to our national global health goals, and highlight areas for potential collaboration with global partners.

Funded by the National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO), this special supplement of Public Health Reports also features expert commentaries from leaders in global public health, including the HHS Office of Global Affairs, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the World Health Organization, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The commentaries further highlight that our national health is intertwined with global health, and that the success of these programs will depend on the collaboration among global partners working toward the vision of the Decade of Vaccines: a world in which all individuals and communities enjoy lives free from vaccine-preventable diseases.

The NVAC is a federal advisory committee comprising members of the public who provide expertise on a range of policy issues pertaining to vaccines and our nation’s immunization delivery system. The NVAC serves an advisory role, providing peer review, consultation, advice, and recommendations to the HHS Assistant Secretary for Health in his capacity as the Director of the National Vaccine Program.

You may now view the supplement on the Public Health Reports website at: http://www.publichealthreports.org/issuecontents.cfm?Volume=129&Issue=9.