Pakistan to receive $60 m Rotavirus vaccines to check Diarrhea: APP

ISLAMABAD July 16 (APP): Pakistan would receive $60 million worth of Rotavirus vaccines from the Global Alliance for Vaccine Immunization (GAVI) for its expanded programme of immunization to check Diarrhea. Diarrhea is recognized worldwide as the No. 1 cause of hospitalization and the second leading cause of infant mortality under 5 years of age.

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in children world-wide and diarrheal deaths in developing countries. Although it infects every child in the world before the age of five years, the risk of dying from rotavirus infection is greater for children born in the developing world in countries including Pakistan.

Pakistan would finance only Rs. 100 million for vaccines valued at over $60 million.

GAVI has provided special funding to enable the inclusion of Rotavirus vaccines in EPI programmes as it is considered "a new priority vaccine".

All GAVI eligible countries are required to send a country proposal by September 25, 2008 for Rotavirus vaccine in order to qualify for this funding.

Over 90 per cent of the 600,000 annual deaths caused by Rotavirus occur in developing countries. Mortality is highest in South Asia and Sub Saharan Africa where it is estimated that about one in 200 children born will die of Rotavirus.

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