Development of priority vaccines for disease-endemic countries: risk and benefit.
Decisions regarding vaccine regulation and use made by institutions in industrialized countries can have an unintended impact on vaccines' availability in disease-endemic countries. However, regulatory and programmatic decision making by such countries, taking into consideration local risks and benefits, requires adequate resources, both human and financial. Such differing risk-benefit determinations between industrialized and disease-endemic countries will increase product divergence. We propose a single universal standard for risk assessment, based on maximizing net benefit, and an action plan to improve access to priority vaccines through a more robust determination of risk and benefit.
Milstien
Julie
J
Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. milstien@medicine.umaryland.edu
Cash
Richard A
RA
Wecker
John
J
Wikler
Daniel
D
D003906:Developing Countries; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011050:Policy Making; D014612:Vaccines / Q000600:supply & distribution*
D014612:Vaccines