GAVI Board Opened a Funding Window for HPV and Rubella Vaccines

The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) Board opened a funding window for human papilloma virus (HPV) and rubella vaccines. They also encouraged the 57 countries eligible for support from GAVI Alliance to apply for funding for introduction of both vaccines. GAVI Alliance’s funds can only be used for vaccines prequalified by World Health Organization (WHO) which recommends on inclusion of HPV and rubella vaccines in national immunisation programmes.

WHO will continue to collaborate with national immunisation programmes planning to introduce both vaccines, providing technical support in logistics management, reaching age groups beyond infancy, and setting up effective systems for monitoring of adverse events following immunisation. The WHO Assistant Director-General, Dr. Flavio Bustreo, said that WHO supports the GAVI Board’s decision in opening funding window for both vaccines.

"The decision by the GAVI Board to invite countries to apply for funding for introduction of human papilloma virus and rubella vaccines is great news for developing countries. The protection afforded by the HPV vaccine will save many more women from the pain and suffering caused by cervical cancer. Availability of funding for rubella vaccine will prevent the severe birth defects that result from rubella infection in early pregnancy and give a much-needed boost to countries' efforts to eliminate both measles and rubella."

Dr Flavia Bustreo, WHO Assistant Director-General, Family, Women's and Children's Health

HPV were known widely as the cause of cervical cancer which responsible for more than 250 million deaths and over 500,000 new cases in each year. HPV is the leading causes of cancer among women and 85% of them were from developing countries. Mainly the cases occur in women aged over 40.

Routine vaccination for young adolescent girls to protect them against HPV has been recommended by the WHO. Yet, there only two vaccines available in the market throughout the world and both are highly efficacious in preventing infection with virus types 16 and 18, which cause around 70% of cervical cancer cases globally.

WHO recommends all countries that have not yet introduced rubella vaccine to consider introducing it and put it in routine immunisation. Rubella is airborne droplets transmitted disease and generally a mild illness. But, if a pregnant woman infected (contracted) by rubella during her first trimester, it can cause miscarriages, still births and infants born with Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). CRS is a congenital defect caused by rubella which commonly in form of heart problems, deafness or cataracts (blindness). It is estimated 112,000 cases occurred globally.

During the last decade, large-scale rubella vaccination has enabled elimination of rubella and CRS in Western Hemisphere and several European countries. But, in Africa, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions, the burden of CRS is still high.

References:

• Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI)
• Wikipedia
• World Health Organization (WHO)