More collaboration needed to raise vaccination rates in developing nations, says analyst

More collaboration is needed between pharmaceuticals companies, public health organizations and governments to increase vaccination rates in developing nations, as concerns with cost, safety and efficacy continue, and new vaccines and methods of delivery fail to make an impact on the market, says an analyst from research and consulting firm GlobalData as the WHO World Immunization Week approaches.

“Vaccine utilization, while typically high in developed countries, still poses a problem for governments in developing nations,” says Ramya Kartikeyan, GlobalData’s head analyst covering infectious diseases, adding: “The recent pandemic influenza outbreak in China, 2012–2013 seasonal influenza season, and findings surrounding dismal long-term protective effects from GlaxoSmithKline’s anti-malarial vaccine have raised new questions about the efficacy of vaccines available in the marketplace today, and safety concerns are also growing amongst manufacturers, public health agencies, and the general public today.”

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Immunization Week 2013 marks a push towards public awareness of serious concerning regarding infectious diseases, as public health organizations continue to challenge current vaccination rates, given the newer developments in vaccinology.