State of worlds vaccines and immunization
DAKAR, 21 October 2009 (IRIN): Yellow fever is a “ticking time bomb”, while measles (mæslinger) has been eliminated three years ahead of schedule in parts of Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean.
These are among the highlights of the most recent World Health Organization (WHO) report, “State of the Worlds Vaccines and Immunization”:
* One quarter of annual under-five deaths, or about 2,5 million infants, are caused by diseases that can be prevented with vaccines.
* Immunization currently saves between two million and three million lives per year.
* There are about 20 vaccines currently in use globally. Another 20 new or improved vaccines are expected to be available by 2015.
* There is no treatment for yellow fever and an “insecure” vaccine supply in Africa where about 27.000 die annually from the disease. There is a gap of 10 million doses every year to meet demand in Africa. An additional six million is needed for any outbreaks.
* Eradicating smallpox (kopper) cost 100 million US dollar over a 10-year period up to 1977 and has since saved 1,3 billion dollar annually in treatment and prevention costs.
* Nine African countries have eliminated neonatal tetanus (stivkrampe).
Læs videre på http://www.IRINnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=86679
