Recent news
June 2011
Video now available for GHTC event highlighting the urgent need for new vaccines
June 15, 2011 -- Video is now available from an event the Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) recently hosted with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) to highlight the promise of new vaccines for global health. During the event, which was held in the US Senate, a panel discussed how new vaccines for diseases such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis can transform global health and development, as well as benefit the United States. Panelists included Washington Post columnist and ONE senior fellow Michael Gerson; John Lusingu, principal research scientist at the Tanzania National Institute for Medical Research; and Margaret McGlynn, IAVI board member and a former president with Merck. The event was moderated by David Cook, IAVI’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.
During the event, several panelists said that vaccines are one of the best buys in global health. For example, Gerson said that although increased treatment access for diseases like HIV/AIDS is necessary, all partners in global health should also focus on preventive measures such as vaccine research and development (R&D). Focusing on treatment alone is not financially sustainable, Gerson said, adding that new preventive tools are needed to ensure sustainability and cost effectiveness in US global health programs.
Also during the event, Lusingu spoke about how research for new vaccines helps to build capacity in endemic countries. For example, Lusingu said that malaria vaccine research conducted in Tanzania and other African countries has provided local scientists with increased training and educational opportunities. According to Lusingu, investments in vaccine research in Tanzania have also helped to enhance laboratory capacity by helping to purchase equipment, computers, and increasing medical staff. Finally, he said that the construction of vaccination centers in the community as part of this research has helped to increase the quality of overall care in the area.
Another theme that emerged during the event was the fact that vaccine R&D is critical to US interests at home and abroad. Gerson said that research for global health vaccines and other products helps to boost state economies by providing employment opportunities and supporting academic institutions, as well as benefit US diplomatic efforts. American military leaders want to “undergo a revolution in the way we view American power in the last ten years, from being primarily military in a lot of circumstances to a much greater emphasis on soft power and how we exert influence in distant parts of the world,” Gerson said. He added that “these elements of soft power,” such as US support for new global health tools, are “equally important” to military operations to achieve American foreign policy goals. “People who are on the ground … understand that power is not just military power. We exert our influence on world events in much different ways.”
Finally, the panelists stressed that all partners—including the US Government, nongovernmental organizations such as foundations, product development partnerships, and private industry such as pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies—prioritize new global health vaccines. According to McGlynn, many pharmaceutical companies consider vaccines to be a “compelling business proposition” because of their cost efficiency. She added that the US Government can make several policy changes to encourage the pharmaceutical industry to invest in vaccine R&D, including programs such as the US Food and Drug Administration’s Priority Review Voucher, as well as tax incentives and credits. See the links below for more information.
