PHM-Exch> WHO backs anti-diarrhoea vaccine [for rotovirus]

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Vern Weitzel <vern.weitzel at gmail.com>
crossposted from: "[health-vn discussion group]" health-vn at anu.edu.au

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8083684.stm


Children in the developing world are most at risk from the virus
The World Health Organization says a vaccine which can prevent a diarrhoea
and
vomiting virus should be given to all children as a routine vaccination.
Rotavirus causes more than 500,000 diarrhoeal deaths and two million
hospitalisations a year among children.
Over 85% of deaths occur in developing countries in Africa and Asia.
International experts welcomed the WHO's recommendations, based on new
research,
but UK scientists have said the vaccine is too costly.
'Milestone'
The WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) made its
recommendations
after new data from clinical trials.
The clinical trial, which involved a range or organisations including the
Global
Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations (GAVI) and drug company
GlaxoSmithKline
(GSK), which makes the vaccine plus researchers in South Africa and Malawi,
found that rotavirus vaccine significantly reduced severe diarrhoea
episodes.
The WHO's Dr Thomas Cherian, said: "This is a tremendous milestone in
ensuring
that vaccines against the most common cause of lethal diarrhoea reach the
children who need them most."

 This is a tremendous milestone in ensuring that vaccines against the most
common cause of lethal diarrhoea reach the children who need them most
Dr Thomas Cherian, WHO
But the WHO said, because there were other causes of diarrhoea, it was also
important to improve water quality, hygiene, and sanitation and ensure oral
rehydration solutions and zinc supplements were available.
Dr Tachi Yamada, president of the Global Health Program at the Bill and
Melinda
Gates Foundation, said: "This WHO recommendation clears the way for vaccines
that will protect children in the developing world from one of the most
deadly
diseases they face.
"We need to act now to deliver vaccines to children in Africa and Asia,
where
most rotavirus deaths occur."
Dr Julian Lob-Levyt, chief executive officer of GAVI, said: "This represents
another important step in our ability to achieve significant impact on
under-five deaths in the world's poorest communities and make progress
towards
the Millennium Development Goals.
"We are extremely excited about the potential to offer African and Asian
countries funding to introduce rotavirus vaccines."
'Price cut'
There are around 130,000 episodes of gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus
each
year in the UK.
Around 12,700 children are hospitalised, and four die each year.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises the
government, said in February that it would only consider recommending the
vaccine if its price were significantly reduced.
In February, the JCVI said: "Rotavirus vaccination would reduce the
incidence of
rotavirus in the population.
"However, the cost-effectiveness analysis showed that, based on current
vaccine
prices, universal vaccination of young children significantly exceeded the
commonly accepted threshold for cost-effective healthcare interventions.
"Introduction of rotavirus vaccines may only become cost-effective if the
vaccine price is reduced significantly."
Professor Andrew Hall, chairman of the JCVI, said the committee always kept
vaccines under review and considered new information.
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