The Meningitis Vaccine Project - frequently asked questions
Funding shortfalls and cost-savings
How much money will be required to eliminate epidemic meningitis as a public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa?
It is estimated that introduction of the vaccine in all meningitis belt countries will require the mobilization from donor governments and others of an additional US$ 475 million.
It is hoped that the international community will supplement the national budgets of introducing countries to ensure that this funding gap is met.
What are the expected cost savings due to introduction of this new vaccine?
A very conservative estimate, looking only at treatment and vaccination, is probably a minimum of around US$20 million in an average year in Africa's meningitis belt. This does not include the expected economic impact of saving lives and preventing disabilities caused by epidemic meningitis. Nor does it include the expected impact of freeing up resources for essential health services, which are usually put on hold during the six to seven months of an epidemic.