WHO Media Release: World Health Assembly endorses the Global Vaccine Action Plan and World Immunization Week
28 May 2012
Ministers of Health from 194 countries at the 65th World Health Assembly endorsed the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP), a roadmap to prevent millions of deaths by 2020 through more equitable access to vaccines for people in all communities. In addition, Member States also designate the last week of April as World Immunization Week.
http://www.who.int/immunization/newsroom/press/wha_endorses_gvap/en/index.html
IFPMA Statement under WHA 65 agenda item 13.12 on Draft global vaccine action plan
Extract
“…As a key partner in immunization, global health, and research and development, the IFPMA, welcomes the vision of the Decade of Vaccines, and lauds the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP), as it outlines an ambitious strategy to achieve immunization goals, including sustained funding, higher national prioritization, enhanced awareness of the value of vaccination, the production of high-quality vaccines, and the adoption of a holistic approach to immunization practices.
“In order to fully achieve the vision of the Decade of Vaccines, further efforts should be undertaken to refine the plan. This requires clarifying interaction vis-à-vis other global vaccine programs and partnerships; prioritizing objectives and identifying opportunities for synergies amongst them; and defining human and financial resource needs and funding sources. In addition, further dialogue is needed to develop an accountability framework which would define stakeholders’ roles and responsibilities, targeted indicators and a monitoring process.
“Equitable and sustained access to and use of high quality, safe and effective vaccines can be enhanced through well-functioning competitive market dynamics that reward innovation and strive for sustainable investments and collaboration. For example through recognition of current pricing and procurement mechanisms that have contributed significantly to progress in access of affordable vaccines.
“We recognize the potential value of facilitating access to vaccine technology and know-how through voluntary technology transfers, while preserving an environment that supports future immunization research and development through protection of intellectual property rights.
“The Decade of Vaccines’ objectives cannot be achieved by countries acting alone. We stand ready to contribute to a country-led, broad-based and collective approach, and work with mutually accountable partners to achieve the GVAP goals. The decisions we make this year, this decade, will have repercussions on future generations – we cannot and we will not fail them.”
DoVC Blog: World Health Assembly: WHO Carves Out Leadership Role In “Vaccine Decade”
Posted: 31 May 2012 09:23 AM PDT
In this piece, journalist Rachel Marusak Hermann reports from the Sixty-fifth World Health Assembly on the endorsement of the Global Vaccine Action Plan. The article originally appeared on Intellectual Property Watch and can also be read at GenevaLunch.com.
World Health Assembly: WHO Carves Out Leadership Role In “Vaccine Decade”
By Rachel Marusak Hermann for Intellectual Property Watch
With a generous pledge and a grand vision, Bill Gates launched the “Decade of Vaccines” two years ago. By endorsing a “Global Vaccine Action Plan” during the World Health Assembly last week, the world’s health authority stands as the lead agency in advancing the initiative.
The 65th World Health Assembly (WHA), which met 21-26 May, endorsed the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP), a broad set of objectives, goals and guiding principles to increase worldwide access to immunzsation.
Although member states and stakeholders widely supported the plan, some said that greater attention needed to be given to addressing the high-cost of new vaccines and that products needed to be better adapted for use in developing countries. Others called for the need to hammer out details related to governance and financial implications.
Read more here.
vaccines and global health :: ethics and policy 