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• Vaccines

2nd Global meeting on implementing new and under-utilized vaccines, 23-25 June 2008

Vaccine product presentation

Several new vaccines of interest to developing countries (e.g. rotavirus, pneumococcal and human papillomavirus) are not currently available in presentations which can easily be integrated into developing country immunization programmes. Specific concerns relate to sensitivity to temperature changes, lack of preservative, and bulky presentation and packaging which results in increased transport and storage requirements.

Participants exchanged information on the various initiatives working on these issues. The joint PATH-WHO Optimize Project (covering the period 2008-2012) has the overall goal of shaping the future of supply and delivery systems for vaccines and other health products in low- and middle-income countries. The Technology and Logistics Advisory Committee (TLAC) provides advice on the field implementation of recommendations of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization. The Vaccine Presentation and Packaging Advisory Group (VPPAG) has been constituted to recommend vaccine presentations and packaging for developing country procurement through the GAVI Alliance.

Participants acknowledged that modifying existing presentations of vaccines is technically challenging and in some cases requires clinical studies and regulatory approval that take time and have financial implications. There was consensus that the development of generic vaccine product profiles would be beneficial, but that these profiles would need to take account of the differing requirements of individual countries. The packaging and presentation components of generic product profiles were discussed in depth.