E-drug: Vaccine Launched to Fight Killer Diseases
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Dear List members,
Here is another single vaccine aimed at eliminating potentially fatal
children's diseases. How do you compare this with the MMR injection reported
in "The Guardian Weekly" posted earlier on in the list.(The Guardian
Weekly - February 21, 2002).
Copy reproduced as fair use.
Enos Radeny
Health Action International (HAI)
Africa Coordinating Office.
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Headline: Vaccine launched to fight killer diseases
East African Standard
Wednesday March 06, 2002
By Victor Bwire
A new vaccine aimed at eliminating potentially fatal children's diseases
like diphtheria (DTP), tetanus, Hepatitis B, Measles, Pertusis and Hib has
been launched.
A single dose of Pentavalent, the DTP-Hep B and Hib combined paediatric
vaccine, protects against several vaccine-preventable childhood diseases.
Previously children used to be given several doses for each of the diseases.
The vaccine will be provided free-of-charge in all public hospitals, thanks
to a generous donation from the Global Alliance for Vaccination and
Immunisation (GAVI) that will run for the next three years.
The new vaccine has been recommended by the World Health Organisation as the
most suitable way of achieving the goal for universal vaccine and
immunisation for all children.
It involves the combination of many antigens into a single vaccine. One dose
of the vaccine will then induce an immune response to each of the antigens
that it contains.
The Manager of the Kenya Expanded Programme for Immunisation (KEPI), Dr
Stanley Sonoiyo, said Pentavalent has been integrated in the national
vaccination programme and will greatly boost the country's immunisation
efforts. "The combined vaccine is the most cost-effective, convenient,
easily administered and most effective in combating common childhood
infectious diseases."
He said the combined vaccine offers the country an immunisation approach
that reduces costs as well as the requirement for infrastructure expansion.
Glaxo SmithKline Commercial Director, John Musunga, said the firm was
selling the vaccine to WHO at very subsidised prices, adding the vaccine
would reduce the overall health costs and simplify vaccine delivery.
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Health Action International (HAI)
Africa Coordinating Office
Musa Gitau Road, Off Waiyaki Way
P.O. Box 73860, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 254-2-444.835
Fax: 254-2-440306
E-mail: ceradeny@africaonline.co.ke
Website: www.haiweb.org
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