When I think about what we might be able to accomplish with vaccines over the next decade, I recall my visit to a crowded clinic outside of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Children lay on rows of hospital beds, some nearly lifeless from severe diarrhea. I spoke to a little boy named Emon, who was lying on a bright orange plastic sheet with a hole in the middle and bucket underneath. He and his mother had already been there for four days.
Fortunately, extraordinary progress in vaccine development and delivery is starting to keep children like Emon healthy. Vaccines against rotavirus, which causes severe diarrhea, and pneumococcal disease, which is a top cause of death in young children in the developing world, are now available. In fact, these two vaccines alone could save lives in more than 40 developing countries by 2015.
On January 29, 2010, Bill and Melinda called for the next decade to be the Decade of Vaccines because they have seen proof that immunizing children is the best way to save lives. The foundation’s $10 billion commitment will make a difference, but it’s not at all sufficient for the task at hand. Our investment is far exceeded by the needs of national immunization programs, implementing partners, and vaccine development efforts across the globe. We hope a broad group of partners will help make this vision both a priority and a reality. I am encouraged by the enthusiasm I’ve seen so far.
Our contribution will focus on three key areas: research around new vaccines, reaching children with existing vaccines, and reinforcing the need for vaccines among key stakeholders. It is important that the foundation continue to take risks and remain flexible in meeting these goals. We plan to help:
Research and develop new vaccines:
- Discover and develop vaccines in key areas: HIV, malaria, TB, neglected diseases, and pneumonia and diarrheal diseases
- Make vaccines easier to use by minimizing the need for refrigeration and needles
Reach poor children around the globe:
- Ensure the policies, programs and resources are in place to introduce vaccines in areas with the greatest need
- Accelerate introduction of vaccines for pneumonia and diarrhea
- Support the global strategy to eradicate polio
Reinforce the importance of vaccines:
- Increase interest and investment from governments, research organizations, manufacturing companies and the engaged public.
Bill and Melinda outlined a vision for saving 8.7 million lives during the Decade of Vaccines. If each of us plays a role, ten years from now we will be able to look back and say that we succeeded. And just as importantly, we will have set the stage to save millions more with vaccines that today have not yet been discovered.
It is only a collective effort that will help us give children like Emon everywhere a shot at life.
Tachi Yamada, M.D.
President, Global Health Program
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation