§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in research and development of new vaccines for developing countries since the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisation was set up. [38105]
§ Clare ShortGAVI is expected to begin funding research later this year. In the course of developing its strategy for investing in vaccine research, GAVI has prioritised research into vaccines against diarrhoea, pneumonia and meningitis. Reasons for the choice of these three include (i) the burden of disease and potential positive impact of an effective vaccine on child health; and (ii) the likelihood that investment would culminate in availability of effective vaccines against these diseases within five to seven years.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans have been made by the international community to continue to supply vaccines when Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunisation funding ceases. [38107]
§ Clare ShortThe GAVI partnership provides financial support through a separate entity, the Vaccine Fund. Countries that receive Vaccine Fund support for new vaccines or to improve their vaccine delivery systems are expected to provide plans for financial sustainability to the GAVI Board at mid-term. The financial sustainability plan, which must be endorsed by the Ministry of Finance, sets out the country's long-term strategy for ensuring funding from internal and/or external sources when Vaccine Fund support for the country's immunisation programme ceases.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made by GAVI in vaccination rates broken down(a) by country and (b) by disease. [38109]
§ Clare ShortAlthough GAVI has made rapid progress since its inception two years ago, it is still too early to provide the information requested. To date, 64 of the 13W 74 countries eligible for GAVI support have applied, and applications from 53 of these countries have been approved.
If the countries approved to date implement their proposals as planned, the number of infants receiving routine immunisations (against tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and polio) will increase from 54.6 million in 2000 to 77 million in 2007; over the same period the numbers vaccinated against hepatitis B will increase from 14.5 million to 59 million, the numbers vaccinated against Haemophilus influenzae type B will increase from 39,000 to 6 million, and the numbers vaccinated against yellow fever will increase from 78.000 to 1.9 million.