E-drug: World Health Assembly Side Event, Co-Sponsored by MSF and IFRC
The Global Immunization Strategy (GIVS): Getting the Balance Right
......................................................
Briefing to the 64th World Health Assembly delegations
Wednesday 18 May 2011, 17:30- 19:30
Room IX, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) would like to call the World Health Assembly delegates' attention to the need for a more balanced approach to global immunization strategies. While significant attention is focused on the introduction of new vaccines in low-income countries, recent and persistent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases also illustrate the need for strengthening routine immunisation and improving outbreak response capabilities of eradication and elimination initiatives. How can the Global Immunisation Vision and Strategy get the balance right between the many global vaccine priorities?
Agenda
Moderators:
Dr. Stefan Seebacher, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Dr. Dominique Legros, Consultant in International Public Health
* Introduction: Striking the right balance: how do we strengthen and better coordinate different global vaccine priorities?
* Measles Outbreaks: Insights from recent experience in Malawi and Democratic Republic of Congo--Rebecca Grais, Ph.D, Epicentre
* National Introduction of a New Vaccine: Pneumococcal Vaccine (PCV) in Kenya--Dr Anna W. Wamae, Kenyan Ministry of Health
* Debate Panel: Global and Country Challenges to Extending the Benefits of Immunisation to All--Panel Members: Rebecca Grais; Dr. Anna W. Wamae; Johannes Everts, Global Polio Eradication Initiative of the World Health Organization.
Questions will be posed by the moderator to panel members and meeting participants; questions and comments will also be taken from the audience
* Closing Words
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) traditionally vaccinates as outbreak response--we are currently addressing measles outbreaks in nine African countries, and since September 2010, MSF has vaccinated over 2.5 million people against measles in the Democratic Republic of Congo alone. Preventative vaccination efforts by MSF are also increasing--MSF assisted in the introduction of the new Meningitis A vaccine in some African Meningitis Belt countries last year, and now vaccinates children with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in our Kenya programs.
The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies supported almost 30 vaccination campaigns in countries throughout Asia and Africa and reached over 4.5 million people with vaccination messages in 2010. In response to the earthquake in Haiti, more than 152,000 people were vaccinated against measles, diphtheria and rubella directly by Red Cross/Red Crescent (RC/RC) emergency response units. Additionally, the RC/RC provided funding to the nationwide vaccination campaign that reached some 928,000 people.
Joanna Keenan
e-mail: Joanna.KEENAN@geneva.msf.org