E-drug: Global immunization vision and strategy Global immunization vision and strategy: SF WHA intervention
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Global immunization vision and strategy
64th WHA Agenda item 13.5
Intervention by Daniel Berman, Médecins Sans Frontières, 20 May 2011
Thank you Mr Chairman.
Médecins Sans Frontières welcomes the progress report on the Global Immunization Vision and Strategy (A64/14) which acknowledges the challenges in reaching goals for routine immunisation while introducing new vaccines.
Vaccines such as pneumococcal have the potential to avert millions of deaths worldwide. But as we introduce new vaccines in low-income countries we need to simultaneously focus on strengthening coverage levels of basic vaccines.
In 2010 MSF supported 11 of 28 African countries reporting measles outbreaks, treating over 202,000 cases. Since September 2010, MSF has vaccinated over 2.5 million children against measles in the Democratic Republic of Congo -- alone.
Outbreaks can point to low vaccination coverage rates, and highlight the need for governments to continue to strengthen their immunisation delivery systems and supplemental immunisation activities.
For the foreseeable future, outbreaks will continue, therefore countries and global partners need to simultaneously invest in outbreak response as well as prevention efforts.
Disparities in immunisation coverage rates between and within countries reflect variation in service delivery and health systems. Addressing disparities will require more accurate, timely and comprehensive data. These activities will especially need more effort in hard-to-reach locations.
There are also opportunities to improve the performance of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI). GAVI has helped many countries increase coverage rates while introducing Haemophilus influenzae type b and hepatitis B vaccinations. However, GAVI's model has shown least success in countries with limited healthcare infrastructure. New innovative strategies are needed for countries with weak systems.
As GAVI refines its new procurement and supply strategy, it needs to become much better in reducing vaccine prices by stimulating competition. The challenge of high prices was repeatedly underlined by member-states during yesterday's discussion, as was growing capacity in emerging countries. GAVI's market power to incentivize the development of more adapted products must also be harnessed.
The recent development of the preventive Meningococcal A conjugate vaccine that is being sold under the initial target price of US$0.50 a dose is an illustration of the potential for innovative development strategies.
Vaccination delivery strategies need to be tailored to national conditions. In some countries with low coverage, guidelines focus almost exclusively on vaccinating the youngest children. This can be counter-productive. To increase general awareness of the benefits of vaccines, and raise population coverage to adequate levels, a more integrated health activities package including vaccination should be encouraged.
New technologies that eliminate the need for needles and cold chain should be prioritized to increase the reach of national immunisation programmes.
In sum, the support for the use of vaccines remains a complex challenge that requires balancing timely and effective outbreak responses, significant improvement in basic vaccine coverage and introduction of affordable and adapted new vaccines.
Joanna Keenan
Press Officer
Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
Medecins Sans Frontieres