Accelerating availability of new vaccines: The role of the international community

Abstract

Most vaccines available to national immunization programs rely on old technologies, are produced by a wide range of laboratories, and meet a variety of standards. The world, however, is facing an explosion of new vaccine products and technologies. The challenge facing the international community is to facilitate global access to high quality, affordable vaccines against priority diseases. Strategies developed to address this challenge are targeting assistance to the neediest countries, tiering of prices for new vaccines according to a segmented market, and assuring access to new technologies for viable local producers. The international community may intervene in three major areas: vaccine development, introduction, and self-sufficiency. Necessary activities include prioritization of vaccine options based on epidemiological disease burden, coordinating research and development, minimizing risks and costs of clinical trials, and strengthening infrastructure so that countries can take responsibility for their own vaccine supply needs. The indication that these activities are being effectively managed is the degree to which new vaccines against important diseases are available in all countries for the majority of the population at risk. © 1998, Drug Information Association. All rights reserved.