International Partnership, Cooperation Brings Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine To More Children

Devex: New Japanese encephalitis vaccine ‘a historic moment for global health’
Lance Gordon, director for neglected infectious diseases in the global health program of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

“…The new [Chinese developed and manufactured Japanese encephalitis] vaccine is now available [through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance] to the world’s poorest countries for a fraction of the price of other vaccines on the market and is expected to reach an estimated 290 million children outside of China by 2017. It’s a fantastic example of what can be achieved in expanding affordable access to health in developing countries when partners work together to address the needs of the world’s poorest. … There remains work to be done to make sure all communities have access to this lifesaving vaccine, but thanks to the steadfast commitment from our partners we are much, much closer to a world where families can live without fear of brain fever…” (4/6).

Skoll World Forum: Partners Unite to Battle Brain Fever
Orin Levine, director of vaccine delivery at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

“…When nearly half the world’s population is in danger of contracting a disease, fast action is not only desirable, but critical. Last week, an immunization session held in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, marked the beginning of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance’s support of a campaign that is helping the country reach all of its children with lifesaving vaccines against JE. It also marked a key moment for a new and powerful player in the global vaccine marketplace: China. … Now that affordable JE vaccines are available to children in need, and countries like China can be part of the global solution, I know we can and will diminish its presence in every country — so that no nation’s name will be connected to this disease” (4/5).

The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.

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