WHO appeals for funds for meningitis vaccine

Now that an inexpensive new meningitis vaccine has been made available in record time, the World Health Organization is issuing an appeal to buy millions of doses before the meningitis season strikes.

Every year, meningitis sweeps across sub-Saharan Africa, and vaccination is the only effective public health weapon to contain these outbreaks. However, two years ago a strain emerged, W135, for which no affordable vaccine existed.

But a new vaccine has been developed by GlaxoSmithKline specifically for these outbreaks and is being made available to the WHO at €1 per dose to build an emergency response stockpile for African countries. Now, funds are urgently needed to produce the new vaccine before the next wave of meningitis begins. Because of production constraints, funds to purchase six million doses must be found within days.

'This is an urgent health situation which forces quick action," said Dr Anarfi Asamoa-Baah, assistant director-general in charge of communicable Diseases at the WHO. 'The tragedy of meningitis will be compounded if we can't get this new vaccine to those who need it most.'