The November issue of GIN was released with the lead story: NEW CONJUGATE VACCINE TO PROTECT AGAINST MENINGITIS A TO BE LAUNCHED

[30/11/2010 from Maya van den Ent (UNICEF) & Carol Tevi Benissan (WHO)]

[Initial paragraphs]

A new conjugate vaccine, to protect against meningococcal group A disease, was successfully used during pilot vaccination campaigns in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in September 2010. The campaigns vaccinated over 1 million people aged 1 – 29 years. Group A meningococcus is the main cause of meningitis epidemics and accounts for an estimated 80-85% of all cases in the 25 countries of the African meningitis belt. The new vaccine is expected to provide protection for at least 10 years, as compared to the polysaccharide vaccines currently in use, that protects for only three years.

Burkina Faso will conduct a nationwide campaign with the new vaccine targeting over 12 million people from 6 December 2010. Mali and Niger will roll out the vaccination in December and continue into 2011. The vaccine, called MenAfriVac and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India Ltd, is available at less than US$ 0.50 per dose. Its development in less than a decade has been possible through a unique public-private partnership. The Meningitis Vaccine Project, which has coordinated development, is a collaboration between WHO and PATH, made possible through a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The introduction in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger is being funded by the governments of the introducing countries, the GAVI Alliance and other partners. UNICEF and WHO are playing a vital role in supporting countries to prepare for the mass campaigns. However, an additional US$ 475 million must be mobilized in

order for the vaccine to be introduced in the remaining 22 countries of the meningitis belt. http://www.who.int/entity/immunization/GIN_November_2010.pdf