India’s immunisation programme, in dire need of expanding the number of vaccines on the list, will receive a boost with Gavi the Vaccine Alliance pledging to spend up to $ 500 million between 2016 and 2021.
The government of India and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, was announced earlier this week in Delhi, after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Seth Berkley, CEO, Gavi.
In addition to introducing new vaccines into the schedule, the idea is also to reach the unreached and increase access to vaccines for millions of children in India.
Fund allocation Under this new partnership strategy, Gavi will allocate the $ 500 million in two tranches — $ 100 million, to support the country’s current immunisation programme and enhance reach, and $ 400 million, for country-wide introduction of new vaccines for diarrhoea and pneumonia, cervical cancer, and Rubella with measles.
‘Speeding up’ India is due to begin transitioning away from Gavi support from 2017 and is expected to begin fully self-financing all its vaccine programmes by 2021, according to sources at Gavi.
“India has a huge birth cohort of about 27 million. While historically India has been slow in introducing new vaccines, over the last few years, we have seen a definite speeding up of the programmes. Also, with the polio immunisation programme, India has proved that it is possible to reach every child,” Dr. Berkley said, speaking to The Hindu of his great optimism from the partnership.
He also applauded the Prime Minister and the Health Minister for taking the initiative.
‘Make in India’ Currently Gavi procures 60 per cent of its vaccines from Indian manufacturers.
It is hoped that through the partnership, Gavi and the government of India will work more closely together to help create a more sustainable global and domestic vaccine manufacturing base, keeping in line with the Make in India initiative.
