<p>Preventing hearing loss with vaccination</p>

Many avoidable causes of hearing loss, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), are infectious diseases that can be prevented by existing vaccines. This is why the 2017 World Health Assembly Resolution on the prevention of deafness and hearing loss1 urges Member States ‘to ensure the highest possible vaccination coverage against rubella, measles, mumps and meningitis’. The greatest progress to date in preventing severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss can be attributed to the measles and rubella vaccines, and the bacterial meningitis vaccines (targeting Haemophilus influenza type b, pneumococcal and meningococcal disease).2

Many of these vaccines are included in the World Health Organization (WHO)'s Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI). Immunisation programmes are now routinely reaching over 80% of children under one year of age and, since 2000, the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisation (GAVI) has contributed to a steady increase in vaccine coverage in poorer countries.