EVM and Developing Countries

EVM companies are the largest suppliers of polio vaccines to developing countries, and the largest suppliers of vaccines to UNICEF, providing more than 70% of the vaccines UNICEF delivers to the world's children. Moreover, EVM companies have developed vaccines specifically designed for the needs of developing countries, such as combined paediatric vaccines that provide protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and invasive Hib disease.

EVM companies are also investing in major research and development programmes for vaccines against diseases that particularly burden the developing world, including HIV/AIDS (preventive and therapeutic vaccines), malaria, dengue, and tuberculosis, among others.

New auto-disposable syringes (A-D) syringes for developing countries have also been developed. Designed to be used not more than once, A-D syringes will help prevent the re-use of contaminated syringes and thus reduce the spread of infection by the hepatitis B virus or HIV. It is now WHO-UNICEF policy to use A-D syringes as the equipment of choice in both routine immunisations and mass vaccination campaigns.

The European vaccine industry continues to work in partnership with the public sector in joint R&D activities and clinical trials patnerships, and with international vaccine distributors and other non-governmental organisations such as:

• United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
• Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
• International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI)
• Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI)

EVM is also working closely with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) a global partnership that brings together major stakeholders from the public and private sector with the aim of increasing vaccination coverage and accelerating R&D in priority vaccines for use in developing countries.

EVM has published the following papers on the subject of the needs of developing countries:

• EVM briefing sheet: The Needs of the Poor
• EVM paper: Vaccines in development against AIDS

Follow this link for information on recent company initiatives and partnerships that are improving access to health in the developing world

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© European Vaccine Manufacturers (EVM) - a specialised group of EFPIA 2007