title: Contribution of Mexico's Universal Immunization Program to the Fourth Millennium Development Goal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify and describe 1) progress achieved thus far in meeting the commitments of the Fourth Millennium Development Goal (MDG 4) in Mexico, mainly the contribution of the Universal Immunization Program (UIP) over the last 20 years, and 2) new opportunities for further reducing mortality among children under 5 years old.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational, descriptive, retrospective study was carried out to examine registered causes of death in children under 5 between 1990 and 2010. Indicators were built according to the recommendations of the United Nations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2010, deaths among children under 5 decreased 64.3% compared to the baseline (1990) figure. Of the total deaths of the children under 5, the neonatal period was the most affected (52.8%), followed by the 1 to 11 months (30.9%), and the 12 to 59 months (16.2%) groups. A 34% overall mortality reduction was observed after the universalization of immunization against influenza, rotavirus, and pneumococcus in children under 5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite a significant reduction in under-5 mortality in Mexico over the last 20 years, largely due to the successes of the UIP, several challenges remain, particularly in improving preventive and curative services during pre- and postnatal care.
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional para la Salud de la Infancia y la Adolescencia, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Vesta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional para la Salud de la Infancia y la Adolescencia, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Uribe
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional para la Salud de la Infancia y la Adolescencia, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Marcelino
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esparza-Aguilar
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional para la Salud de la Infancia y la Adolescencia, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esteves-Jaramillo
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional para la Salud de la Infancia y la Adolescencia, Secretaría de Salud, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Suárez-Idueta
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D006040:Goals; D006803:Human Development; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014480:United Nations