Decade of Vaccines supplement features PATH contributors
The journal Vaccine has published a special supplement dedicated to the Decade of Vaccines Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) that features articles by PATH contributors and others on the GVAP strategic objectives and the opportunities and challenges associated with its implementation.
The supplement was published as part of the lead-up to World Immunization Week, beginning April 20, with articles on a range of related topics, including vaccine development, financing, access, delivery, and health impact. The goal of the supplement is to provide insights into the GVAP strategic objectives and to serve as an information source for the global immunization community. More than 100 authors contributed to the supplement representing a variety of international and developing-country stakeholders, from civil society and academia to vaccine manufacturers and policymakers.
Closing immunization gaps
The GVAP is a framework approved by the World Health Assembly in May 2012 to achieve the Decade of Vaccines vision of delivering universal access to immunization. As a partner organization of the Decade of Vaccines Collaboration, PATH contributed to six articles in the supplement that reflect our expertise and wide-ranging role in helping to close immunization gaps for underserved populations in developing countries.
Our contributions to the Vaccine supplement
PATH’s commitment to achieving the GVAP goals is highlighted in our contributions to the Decade of Vaccines supplement, as detailed in the following article summaries:
- Malaria vaccine R&D in the decade of vaccines: Breakthroughs, challenges, and opportunities. Results of late-stage trials of the world’s most clinically advanced malaria vaccine candidate show it is possible to develop a safe malaria vaccine that helps protect children in endemic countries against the disease. Work on other vaccine approaches could provide higher levels of direct protection and/or block transmission of the malaria parasite. This article outlines the progress and remaining challenges.
- New vaccine introductions: Assessing the impact and the opportunities for immunization and health systems strengthening. Several areas where new vaccine introduction may help strengthen a country’s health system were identified through a special report to the World Health Organization in 2012. This article outlines the ways those involved in a new vaccine introduction process can maximize opportunities to strengthen health systems.
- Projections of the costs, financing, and additional resource requirements for low- and lower-middle-income country immunization programs over the decade, 2011-2022. To achieve the aspirational goals of the GVAP, a certain level of financing, improved program management, and tracking of resources must be in place. This article outlines the projections done during the development of the GVAP to identify the costs, available financing, and additional resources needed to achieve these goals.
- Strategies to advance vaccine technologies for resource-poor settings. New innovations that can positively impact the effectiveness, acceptability, and safety of immunizations are increasingly available. This article explains the challenges and opportunities associated with accelerating the availability of novel vaccine technologies to meet critical needs in resource-poor settings over the next decade.
- The estimated mortality impact of vaccinations forecast to be administered during 2011-2020 in 73 countries supported by the GAVI Alliance. Millions of deaths are expected to be averted due to the immunization of populations in countries supported by the GAVI Alliance. This article shares the methodologies and process used to calculate the estimated impact of immunization in these countries.
- The imperative for stronger vaccine supply and logistics systems. In developing countries, system inefficiencies and storage capacity bottlenecks threaten vaccine access, availability, and quality. A global 2020 vision to strengthen and optimize supply and logistics systems was recently crafted by national governments, donors, and nongovernmental and international agencies. This article details key actions for achieving the vision’s five priority objectives over the next ten years.
Read the full Vaccine supplement on the ScienceDirect website.