A new 5-minute film is now available on our website to provide a snapshot of the current global progress and challenges in the fight against pneumococcal disease.

The film is based on footage from two previous BBC World documentary films. This short video illustrates the human cost of pneumococcal disease, and highlights the significant progress the global community has made to speed up the introduction of life-saving vaccines in developing countries. The film profiles 2007's momentous launch of an Advance Market Commitment (AMC) for pneumococcal vaccines and the integral recommendation of the WHO for developing countries to make pneumococcal vaccine introduction a priority, beginning with the licensed 7-valent vaccine.

Featuring interviews and quotes from political leaders including UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, WHO, researchers and clinicians, the film shows the devastating effects of pneumococcal disease on children around the world.

To view and download the short video, visit www.preventpneumo.org

A poll sponsored by the U.S. Coalition for Child Survival, an alliance including the Global Health Council, CARE and Save the Children, shows that most Americans did not recognize pneumonia, diarrhea, and childbirth complications as the top killers of young children around the world. Most people surveyed thought that AIDS or malaria caused the bulk of deaths in children less than 5 years of age. The reasons underlying these misapprehensions are varied, but most likely due to the emphasis placed on AIDS and malaria by the media and clearly show the need for more evidence-driven advocacy for pneumonia and pneumococcal disease prevention. To read the poll, click here.

Together with partners, GAVI’s PneumoADIP is working to raise the profile of pneumonia and pneumococcal disease globally and in developing countries. Examples of successful partnership include a recent advocacy training for regional leaders in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This workshop included over 20 leading pediatricians and public health professionals from east Africa and was jointly sponsored by PneumoADIP, HibInitiative and the GAVI Alliance. In Washington, DC, PneumoADIP is joining with PATH, Global Health Council, Aeras, and others to conduct a briefing at the US Senate Dirksen Building on October 31st. This event, which begins with a welcome by Senator Richard Lugar (R-Indiana), will highlight the burden of pneumococcal disease and the value of an Advance Market Commitment for pneumococcal vaccines.

Five GAVI country applications were submitted in the first round of applications for pneumococcal vaccines. The countries that have submitted applications and are under consideration by the GAVI Alliance include Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Yemen, and Kenya. Pending application reviews, this means that by 2008, up to five GAVI countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia could begin using pneumococcal vaccines, at least 10 years faster than historical precedents. With this kind of progress, we estimate that 5.4 million childhood deaths will be prevented by the year 2030.

To help support new vaccine introductions, GAVI recently updated its policy on “vaccine introduction grants”. Now, with each new vaccine introduced, GAVI countries can apply for a one-time grant to support the initial introductory activities. Countries are entitled to apply for US$0.30 per infant in the birth cohort, with a minimum grant of at least $100,000. This new vaccine introduction grant occurs with each new vaccine introduced. For example, in a country like Pakistan with 4.5 million births, this would amount to $1,350,000 in support when it introduces pneumococcal vaccine, and again another $1,350,000 when it introduces rotavirus vaccine. For more details on GAVI’s application process and guidelines, please visit the GAVI website at http://www.gavialliance.org/support/how/guidelines/index.php.

UK Health Protection Agency Presents Surveillance Findings – Enhanced surveillance data from the UK Health Protection Agency has shown that cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) caused by the seven major serotypes included in PCV7 have gone down by almost 50%. HPA scientists followed up on the 409 cases of IPD in children in England and Wales since the vaccine was introduced in September 2006, to monitor the vaccine’s impact. Early evaluation of the vaccine shows that it provides good protection around the order of 84% in children following two doses, and 75% protection after a single dose. This is important because the UK uses a “2 + 1” schedule with doses given at ages 2, 4, and 13 months. (For more on their schedule and pneumococcal vaccines, click here to download a powerpoint presentation from the Department of Health.) Previous surveillance studies have suggested a high protective efficacy is possible from this regimen. The UK is one of the first countries to implement this schedule and to match it with careful surveillance. To follow the UK’s surveillance data, please visit their website where they provide up to the minute surveillance reports.

October 31, 2007 – From Theory to Action: Accelerating Worldwide Access to Life-Saving Vaccines in Washington, DC

November 7-8, 2007 – Meningitis Research Foundation International Conference: Meningitis and Septicaemia in Children and Adults in London, UK

November 20, 2007 – PACE Meeting in Prague, Czech Republic

November 27-30, 2007 – Joint GAVI Alliance & Fund Board Meetings in Cape Town, South Africa

December 11-14, 2007 – AFRO Task Force on Immunization in Madagascar

December 13-14, 2007 – The First Symposium on Pneumococcal Vaccination in the Asia-Pacific Regions in Seoul, Korea

June 8-12, 2008 – ISPPD6 (6th International Symposium on Pneumococci & Pneumococcal Diseases) in Reykjavik, Iceland