Honduras tackles leading killer of children

Pneumococcal vaccines introduced in seventh GAVI-eligible country Major progress against pneumonia was delivered last Friday when Honduras began providing vaccines aimed at preventing the biggest causes of the disease as part of its routine immunisation programme. “This is very good news for the children of Honduras. Congratulations to the government of Honduras for its commitment to providing these life saving vaccines to the children who desperately need them,” said Helen Evans, GAVI interim CEO. The vaccines protect children from pneumococcal disease, the most common and serious form of respiratory infections. The disease takes the lives of over a million people every year – including more than 500,000 children before their fifth birthday. It is the leading cause of pneumonia, which kills more babies and small children than any other illness in the world. Since December 2010, the governments of Nicaragua, Guyana, Yemen, Kenya,...