MSF calls for urgent action on vaccines to save lives

Humanitarian medical organization Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) is calling for four key policy changes to reduce the number of children missing out on vaccinations globally (22.6 million in 2012).

It called for action as the GAVI Alliance (formerly the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization) faces its progress review in Stockholm, Sweden. GAVI is a public-private global health partnership committed to saving children’s lives and protecting people’s health by increasing access to immunization in poor countries

Kate Elder, vaccines policy advisor at MSF’s Access Campaign, said: “We think GAVI should be commended for many of its accomplishments over the last decade, but we also think it’s very important for GAVI to take a close and critical look at what it can improve going forward. We believe an ambitious, inclusive GAVI that will fight hard to shape markets, products and prices, is essential in helping the world meet its immunisation targets and preventing disease in the most vulnerable.”