New access to Vaccines Index reveals first landscape of vaccine company actions to improve immunisation coverage

The 2017 Access to Vaccines Index reveals the first landscape of industry activity to improve immunisation coverage. It finds high diversity in how vaccine companies are improving access to vaccines for people in poorer countries. This diversity is generally linked to the size of portfolios and pipelines. Vaccines are one of the most powerful health interventions available. Yet WHO estimates that 19.4 million infants worldwide are still missing out on basic vaccines. “There is a world to be won by increasing access to vaccines,” says Jayasree K. Iyer, Executive Director, Access to Medicine Foundation. “As a global community, we all share responsibility of ensuring everyone benefits from immunisation. The companies that develop and manufacture vaccines clearly also have a role to play. This Index has mapped what vaccine companies are doing, and what prompts them to take action -a critical step to making vaccine markets more inclusive.” The independent Index analysed companies’ R&D...