Global Immunization News 28 May 2010
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Global Immunization News 28 May 2010 World Health Organization Global Immunization News Inside this issue: Technical Information 66th World Health 2 Assembly endorsed LIVE-WEBCAST resolutions on a vari- ety of immunization GLOBAL NEW AND UNDER-UTILIZED VACCINES IMPLEMENTATION MEETING Family and Community 2 23-25 JUNE 2010 Health: contributing to the MDGs For the upcoming Global NUVI meeting on 23-25 June in Montreux, Switzerland, a live webcast will be running during the plenary sessions 30 years of smallpox 3 eradication com- and selected workshops of the meeting, enabling visitors to the site to memorated watch presentations as they are being given. WHO Leads Revision 3 of International Tech- To view the agenda and register for the webcast please visit the nical Specifications of following website: http://www.who.int/nuvi/global_meetings/en/ Yellow Fever Vaccines index.html New Publications 4 Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration with information you need to join the Webinar. AfriFlu - international 4 conference on influ- enza in Africa OVER 100 COUNTRIES PARTICIPATED IN Selected officials 5 IMMUNIZATION WEEK contemplate a na- 28/05/2010 from Hayatee Hasan WHO/HQ: tional immunization Best opportunity yet 5 In 2010, for the first time, 112 countries in the WHO for a polio-free world: regions of the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean and WHA Europe hosted simultaneous immunization weeks which Update: WHO recom- 6 began on 24 April. This unprecedented collaborative mendation for recall effort between the three regions provided further and destruction of all momentum towards a worldwide immunization week. lots of Shan5 vaccine Various regional launches were held to kick off the week and a range of activities were carried out including workshops, training sessions, social mobilization, Recommendations on 6 use of rotavirus vac- round-table discussions, exhibitions and media events addressing a wide range of vaccine-related issues. cines In addition, large scale vaccination campaigns, tracking of unvaccinated people and the delivery of an integrated package of life-saving health interventions during "Child Health Days" also took place. The Revised RFP for Tech- 6 Net electronic forum target audiences for activities included parents, caregivers, health workers, mass media, and decision- and website makers. In addition, presidents and prime ministers, first ladies, health ministers, ambassadors and leading personalities such as international soccer star Ronaldhino Gaucho provided valuable support to GAVI Information 7 this important initiative. Beyond increasing immunization rates, the initiative is an effective tool for communicating the value of immunization. For more information, visit http://www.who.int/immunization/ Regional Meetings & 8- newsroom/advocacy_events_immunization_weeks_2010/en/index.html Key Events 10 Regional Meetings & 11 Key Events Announcement of 2011 GIM dates: Related Links 12 The 6th Global Immunization Meeting (GIM) will be held Feb 15-17, 2011 in New York. Further information will be made available in September. Global Immunization News Technical Information SIXTY-THIRD WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY ENDORSED RESOLUTIONS ON A VARIETY OF IMMUNIZATION ISSUES 28/05/2010 from Hayatee Hasan WHO/HQ: “Introducing new The World Health Assembly, which brought together Health Ministers and senior health officials from the WHO Member vaccines and States, concluded business and closed on 21 May. The delegates technologies” adopted resolutions on a variety of global health issues including: Global eradication of measles: Nineteen countries took the floor during the discussion and endorsed the following targets Flags flying during the WHA to be achieved by 2015: measles vaccination coverage of >90% Credit: Melinda Henry, WHO at national level and >80% in every district; a reported annual incidence of measles of <5 cases per million population; and =>95% reduction in global measles mortality compared with 2000 estimates. These targets should be viewed as milestones towards the eventual global eradication of measles. Member States were encouraged by the efforts and progress made in controlling measles but also highlighted the formidable challenges that need to be addressed to achieve the 2015 targets. These include: competing public health priorities, weak immunization systems, sustaining high routine vaccination coverage, addressing the US$ 298 million funding gap, vaccinating the hard-to-reach population and addressing an increasing number of measles outbreaks particularly in cross border areas. Success in achieving the measles 2015 targets is essential if the Millennium The information Development Goal 4 to reduce child mortality is to be reached. More Information. contained in this Newsletter depends Viral hepatitis: Member States accepted the report to the World Health Assembly and adopted a upon your resolution including a World Hepatitis Day on 28 July. Viral hepatitis (i.e. hepatitis A, B, C, D and E) —a contributions combination of diseases that are estimated to kill over 1 million people each year. An estimated 1 in 12 persons are currently infected and have to face a life with liver disease if unrecognized. This Please send inputs endorsement by Member States calls for WHO to develop a comprehensive approach to the for inclusion to: prevention and control of these diseases. More Information. [email protected] Treatment and prevention of pneumonia: Member States adopted a resolution on the treatment and prevention of pneumonia -- the number one killer of children under five years globally. The resolution makes it clear that intensified efforts to address pneumonia are imperative if the achievement of Millennium Development Goal 4 is to be achieved. More Information. FAMILY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH: CONTRIBUTING TO THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGS) 28/05/2010 from Hayatee Hasan WHO/HQ: “Integrating The contribution of WHO's work in family and community Immunization, other health to MDGs 3 (to promote gender equality and empower linked health women), 4 (to reduce child mortality), 5 (to improve maternal interventions and health), and 6 (to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other surveillance in the diseases) was featured at the exhibit of the Family and health systems Community Health Cluster at the 2010 World Health context” Assembly. The role of vaccines and immunization in achieving these goals was highlighted in documentation available to visitors to the stand. Activities include: immunization against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases; the introduction of new vaccines such as those against pneumonia Exhibit of the Family and Community and rotavirus diarrhoea; the provision of insecticide-treated Health Cluster at the 2010 World Health nets during immunization campaigns, and collaboration in the Assembly development of vaccines against diseases such as HIV, malaria, tuberculosis and epidemic meningitis. For more information, see http://www.who.int/immunization/ newsroom/fch_mdgs_flyer_wha_2010.pdf and http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA63/A63_7- en.pdf Page 2 Global Immunization News Technical Information The information THIRTY YEARS OF SMALLPOX ERADICATION COMMEMORATED contained in this 28/05/2010 from Hayatee Hasan WHO/HQ: Newsletter depends upon your On the sidelines of the 63rd World Health Assembly, public health leaders unveiled a statue at WHO contributions headquarters to commemorate 30 years of smallpox eradication. At a moving ceremony overlooking the bronze statue designed and crafted by Welsh artist Martin Williams, WHO Director-General Dr Please send inputs Margaret Chan was joined by many people who played a key role in this epic story. The statue depicts for inclusion to: "a global family" being vaccinated against smallpox and shows the bifurcated needle which together with the vaccine and tens of thousands of health workers, was instrumental in eradicating this disease. Dr [email protected] Halfdan Mahler, WHO Director-General during the period when the disease was eradicated; Dr Donald Henderson, former Director of the WHO Smallpox Eradication Programme and Dr Jean Roy, Director of Smallpox Eradication Commemoration Committee 2010, all spoke of the tremendous innovation, creativity, and dedication which helped end a 3,000 year-old disease which left death, blindness and disfigurement behind and marginalized those who survived. Dr Chan pointed out that the statue commemorates a time of great idealism that attracted talent and inspired commitment and personal sacrifice. "Above all, it stands as a reminder of the power of international health cooperation to do great and lasting good," she said. A new generation of public health workers, including those working on eradicating diseases such as polio and measles, looked on at the ceremony as veteran public health experts were reunited after three decades since smallpox eradication. More information Statue at WHO headquarters to commemorate 30 years of smallpox eradication WHO LEADS REVISION OF INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF YELLOW FEVER VACCINES 28/05/2010 from Tiequn Zhou, WHO/HQ: Yellow Fever (YF) virus is endemic in tropical areas of Africa and Latin America. In Africa, an estimated 508 million people are at risk. WHO estimates that a total of 200 000 cases of YF occur each year, with about 30 000 deaths. YF is also a significant risk to more than 3 million travelers to areas affected with YF each year and it is the only viral disease specifically cited in the International Health Regulation