Reversing a downward trend, immunization rates are now at their highest ever and vaccine development worldwide is booming, according to a new assessment released today by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the World Bank.
The State of the World-s Vaccines and Immunization reports that more infants are being immunized today than ever before-a record 106 million in 2008-according to new data. At the same time, its authors are calling on donor nations to address a funding gap that leaves millions of children still at risk, particularly in the poorest nations and communities, where preventable diseases take their deadliest toll.
The release of new evidence of success in the overall global immunization effort takes place just as many nations are conducting pandemic influenza A (H1N1) immunization campaigns, underscoring the unparalleled role of vaccines in preventing communicable diseases and the challenges of reaching the most vulnerable communities.
-The influenza pandemic draws attention to the promise and dynamism of vaccine development today,- said Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General, WHO. -Yet it reminds us once again of the obstacles to bringing the benefits of science to people in the poorest nations. We must overcome the divide that separates rich from poor-between those who get life-saving vaccines, and those who don-t.-
Leading officials from international agencies warn that life-saving vaccines, now common in wealthy countries, still do not reach an estimated 24 million children who are most at risk. At least an additional US$1 billion per year will be needed to ensure that new and existing vaccines will be delivered to all children in the 72 poorest countries.
-Worldwide measles deaths fell by 74% between 2000 and 2007, and vaccinations played an important part in that decline,- said Ann M. Veneman, Executive Director, UNICEF. -Such progress must inspire new efforts to immunize children around the globe against life-threatening diseases.-
The report states that the reversal of the downward trend was in great part due to the efforts of developing countries, which made good use of support from the GAVI Alliance-a vaccine-financing partnership that includes WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Since 2000, this has increased the introduction of new and underused vaccines, which now reach more than 200 million children in 72 developing countries.
Experts report that at least 120 vaccines-a record number-are now available against deadly diseases. Over the last few years, scientists in academia and at pharmaceutical companies, many in public-private partnerships created with support from governments and philanthropy, have developed new life-saving vaccines for meningococcal meningitis, rotavirus diarrhea, pneumococcal disease, and human papillomavirus (HPV). In addition, over 80 new products are in late-stage clinical testing, including more than 30 that target diseases for which no vaccine currently exists. At the same time, a significant number of vaccine candidates, including ones targeting diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and dengue, are moving through the research pipeline.