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July 14, 2003

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

“With Gates’ Help, Immunization Initiative Surges”

Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (07/14/03) P. A1; Gillis, Justin

A clinical trial is due to begin this week in Mozambique, one that will involve almost 2,000 children and will see if a vaccine can be developed against malaria.  It is part of an international initiative formed by the world’s top public-health agencies and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that is intended to find solutions to problems that kill millions of children each year, and Bill Gates contributed much of the money that made the initiative possible.  The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization has raised global vaccination rates, gotten vaccines to poor children, increased funds spent on immunizations, and includes the drug companies that manufacture vaccines while employing experts to find solutions to the problems that the companies face in serving poor nations.  It has convinced the companies that there will be a long-term market for the vaccines they develop, and in response the companies have lowered some prices, upped supply, and begun researching new vaccines.  GlaxoSmithKline is behind the Mozambique malaria vaccine trial, and if the vaccine works, Glaxo will begin production for the vaccine, whose real market is the poorest nations.  Glaxo is also due to begin a huge test of a rotavirus vaccine in Latin America this autumn.  The trouble is that if the alliance is successful in getting more vaccines developed and produced, it will soon run out of money without further contributions.