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Report Cautions On Drop of Vaccine Coverage

This Day (Lagos)

May 9, 2003
Posted to the web May 9, 2003

Nsikan Ikpe
Lagos

A recent report has said that a drop in vaccine immunisation coverage could increase the rate of controllable diseases. When the diseases re-appear national borders prove to be no barriers, the report stated.

The report feared that lack of immunisation could lead to global epidemics since vaccination prevents pre-mature death as well as reduces cost of health maintenance.

According to the report titled "Immunization Is As Vital Today as Ever," vaccine immunization is the single most cost-effective health care investment available in the society which reduces both mortality and morbidity.

Unfortunately, it stressed that vaccines are under-used while preventable diseases remain a major threat to global health.

Because of this, international agencies, government and health policy makers are encouraged to establish and maintain focus on preventive measures.

Therefore, Aventis Pasteur, the sponsors of the report and one of the leading vaccine manufacturing industries has restated its commitment to improve health care delivery in an effort to improve health in the country.

The company's General Manager, Business Development, Mrs. Clare Omatseye said the organisation has met a target of over 150 countries in the world.

She noted that Aventis Pasteur represents approximately one fourth of the world's vaccine market. "We are the world's leading vaccine specialists with the widest range of products, our vaccines protect against 19 bacterial and viral diseases like pertussis, diphtheria,haemophitus and influenza infections".

Others are typhoid fever, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, yellow fever . She further stated that in 2001, the company produced about 1.3 billion doses of vaccine, which was made availabte to 500 million people worldwide.

The company is said to devote about 17 per cent of its total revenue into research and development on new vaccines. Omatseye stressed that Aventis Pasteur develops new preventive and therapeutic vaccines that contribute to the protection and improvement of human health by creating superior immunological products for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and cancers. It also improves existing ones as well as simplifies administrative methods.

A statement from the company confirmed that the company has been a major provider of vaccines to the National Programme on Immunization (NPI) as well as the private health sector.

The company's Chief Executive Jean-Baptiste Daurat, in a statement said that the decision to establish a fully owned subsidiary in Nigeria was to strengthen the company's activities with healthcare professionals and organisations implementing preventive programmes.

He explained that Aventis pasteur works in close collaboration with healthcare professionals, medical centers, and public authorities.

"The company supports healthcare policies by taking into consideration the economic context, especially that of the poorest countries," the statement stressed.

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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.