Childhood vaccines at an all-time high, but access not yet equitable

Melanie Lofgren
10/23/09
12:23 p.m.

Immunization rates have gone up in the past year, especially among children. The Sate of the world’s vaccines and immunization reports that 106 million infants have been vaccinated in 2008. A record number of 120 vaccines are now available to prevent deathly diseases. The global vaccine market has tripled in the past eight years. However, there are still children in the world who do not have this luxury, an estimated 24 million, particularly in the 72 developing countries. There would need to be at least $1 billion extra per year in order to ensure that all children are vaccinated. Thanks to a vaccine-financing partnership, the GAVI Alliance which includes WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, children are being reached. It has introduced new and underused vaccines to 200 million children in developing countries. Although this partnership only treats those in developing countries leaving 30 million children in middle income countries, some who live on less than $2 a day, without assistance. Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO, states, "The influenza pandemic draws attention to the promise and dynamism of vaccine development today. “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."

I think this is a very important issue because if we are able to prevent certain diseases in one country then we can shift our focus to larger health problems in that area. I also agree with Dr. Chan that we should overcome the rich-poor divide and prevent people from contracting preventable diseases. It is frustrating to understand how expensive it is to send vaccines over to developing countries and that there is not enough money to send enough for every child. However, it is good news to hear that the immunization rates have been increasing and I hope that it continues to do so.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2009/state_immunizaton_20091021/en/index.html