By Zanele Mji
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| Immunization during measles catch up campaign (Photo by WHO Country Office for Bangladesh) |
A record 106 million children were vaccinated in 2008, signaling great strides for vaccination development worldwide. For the first time in recorded history, the number of children dying each year has fallen to below ten million. This progress is mostly due to the combined efforts of developing countries and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI): a financial coalition which includes the World Bank, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), WHO and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Since 2000, the alliance has provided immunization to two hundred million more children.
Despite this progress, more needs to be done to reach the over 24 million children (almost 20 percent of those born each year) who have not been vaccinated. Nearly one-fifth of all children born are not receiving vital immunizations scheduled for their first year of life.
“Impediments to immunization include poor infrastructure and logistical support systems,” Melinda Henry, WHO Information Officer for Immunizations, Vaccines and Biologicals, told MediaGlobal. Countries need a solid infrastructure and health system in place to be able to successfully introduce a vaccine. This entails a wide range of components including human resources, good governance, technology and infrastructure, and service delivery.
Remote geographical locations are also a factor. Large countries with populations scattered in remote areas present a challenge. In addition, a lack of information amongst parents leads to fear, ignorance and avoidance.
“The cost of immunization per live birth in low-income countries is on the rise, particularly with the addition of new vaccines needed to sharply impact child mortality.” explained Henry. On average, it cost US$12 to immunize a child against the “five killer diseases”: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, and HIB (an infection that causes meningitis and pneumonia). This is expected to rise to US$18 by next year. In 2000 it was around a third of that cost.In GAVI supported countries inoculations are administered for free. However GAVI’s assistance does not extend to middle income countries, leaving a substantial of those living below the poverty line out in the cold.
The Report claims that an additional US$1 billion is needed from donors in order to address the gap in distribution. As part of the solution, The Alliance is introducing a new Advance Market Commitment (AMC): An arrangement between vaccine developers and donors that regulates the price of vaccines.
GAVI has also pledged to increase funding for strengthening developing countries’ health systems, in order to strengthen other services (such as maternal and child care and education about vaccines) in the hope of creating synergy in health care development across the board. The effectiveness of vaccines becomes even more substantial when combined with other initiatives such as administration of Vitamin A supplements and deworming medications, and the distribution of bed nets.
Vaccination is now at the forefront of global healthcare debate, as a vital tool in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal on reducing child mortality. Development in the field needs not only to be accelerated, but also sustainable. “Wider use of immunization should reduce the cost of vaccines per unit,” said Henry. “And immunization remains a very good health buy.”
