Immunization Newsbriefs (c) Copyright Information Inc., Bethesda, MD. Brought to you by the National Network for Immunization Information (NNii). Visit NNii's new website at http://www.immunizationinfo.org.

———————————————————————

June 27, 2003

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

“Studies: Child Deaths Avoidable”

Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) (06/27/03) P. A3; Brown, David

The Lancet medical journal is publishing on Friday five articles concerning child mortality rates and methods of prevention as it comes to light that over half of the 10 million children in poor countries who die before they reach five years of age could be saved through inexpensive and proven medical procedures.  Child mortality rates plummeted in the 1970s as changes in agricultural techniques altered the diets of poor nations and the widespread uptake of vaccines prevented numerous diseases from attacking children and adults alike, a trend that slowed but continued through the 1980s and 1990s.  More recently, however, the world has moved its attention toward specific illnesses like AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.  According to one study in the Lancet, there have been some negative changes in child health in recent years, with fewer children in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia getting the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine today compared to eight years ago, while the number of children receiving measles vaccinations in Africa dropped from 62 percent to 50 percent between 1990 and 1999.  All of the findings have led health experts to renew their call for help from rich nations and even rich individuals to help the fight against preventable disease in children.  The Lancet authors believe that $1 billion more in funding will be needed to purchase vaccines, $4 billion to treat childhood illnesses, and $2.5 billion to prevent and treat malaria in all age groups.