The science is clear – let us highlight and support ‘World Immunization Week’
Last week in April is the ‘World Immunization Week’. As the world unites against Covid-19, we are reminded of how quickly emerging and new diseases can spread when there is no immunity or vaccine to protect. Vaccines, when they are available, are the most effective tool to control and eliminate life-threatening infectious diseases. Vaccination saves millions of lives every year and is one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective health interventions.
The theme for World Immunisation Week 2020 is VaccinesWork for All which highlights how people who develop, deliver and receive the vaccine are important as they all work to protect the health of everyone. World Immunization Week’ really symbolises our commitment to continue our work to support the prevention of vaccine preventable diseases for people of all ages.
We are proud to be a part of the vaccine community and determined to develop the world’s first vaccine against ETEC induced diarrhoea. An ETEC vaccine has the potential of saving hundreds of thousand lives and preventing considerable suffering and malnutrition due to repeated bouts of diarrhoea in children below five years of age in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Approx. 80 million travellers visit subtropical/ tropical countries annually. Traveling to LMIC involves a risk of travel-related diseases. At least 35 million travellers per year are affected by travellers’ diarrhoea (TD). ETEC is the major cause of TD, responsible for approximately 15 million annual cases.
