10/1/2003
Global Vaccine Coalition Backs Un Immunization Strategy For Measles

An international coalition for immunization has endorsed a plan by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to reduce child deaths from measles by increasing the opportunities for vaccination early in childhood.

The Board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) backed the agencies' strategy, which last year saved the lives of more than 130,000 children in Africa and enabled seven African countries to reduce measles deaths to near zero since 2000.

Of all the vaccine-preventable diseases, measles remains the leading cause of death among children, the Board reported, affecting nearly 30 million children a year and claiming the lives of nearly 800,000 - more than half of them in Africa. "We have the opportunity to save well over 2 million young lives using a proven strategy, " Carol Bellamy, UNICEF Executive Director and Chair of the GAVI Board, said of the new immunization plan.

The strategy provides children with two opportunities for measles immunization. The first is given at 9 months through the country's routine immunization programme, while the second is through supplementary vaccination campaigns conducted every 3 to 4 years to ensure that every child is reached.

WHO and UNICEF estimate that an additional $200 million will be needed to implement the comprehensive measles strategy. The funds would pay for vaccines, safe injection materials, refrigeration equipment, transportation and personnel both to strengthen routine immunization activities and to conduct supplementary measles immunizations activities in the African region through 2010.

GAVI is a coalition of global leaders in immunization and includes UN organizations, national governments, foundations, non-governmental organizations, and the pharmaceutical industry. It was formed in response to stagnating global immunization rates and widening disparities in vaccine access among industrialized and developing countries.