State of the World's Vaccines: Must Raise Coverage To Save Two Million Young Children

by Mike Smith · 2009-10-21 08:04:00 UTC
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Immunization is at its highest ever level, but we've still got work to do. That was the message of an important and comprehensive assessment by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the World Bank on the state of the world's vaccines and immunization (executive summary PDF here). It's presented as "a call to action to governments and donors to sustain and increase funding for immunization in order to build upon the progress made so far in meeting the global goals."

Immunization is essential to meeting Millennium Development Goal #4 of reducing deaths of children under five. In developing countries, millions of lives are being saved through immunizations. The next step that the WHO demand is to insure that vaccines already available are more widely distributed, with the hope to raise vaccine coverage to 90% by 2015, which would save the lives of two million young children. Immunization is one of the most cost effective health interventions. "The overall picture," the report concludes, "is one of cautious optimism, enthusiasm, energy, and dedication."

The press conference happened this money with hashtag #VAX2009. I've just skimmed the feed, and here are some highlights:

  • Helen Evan, deputy CEO of GAVI, says that more manufacturers are making vaccines, creating more competition and lowering costs. @amanda4gavi

  • Rakesh Nangia: Hard to reach kids: in many cases, vax are there, delivery systems are not. @DCScience

  • Rakesh Nangia: Costs going up: $18 per child up from $3-$5, heading up to $30 per child as pneumo and others added. @amanda4gavi

  • 2 new vaccines, pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines, could prevent 1.3 million deaths annually. @amanda4gavi

Photo credit: Cambodia4kidsorg

Mike Smith
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