News From Addis Ababa/ Disease Eradication, Best Buy

Friday, 26th of February 2016

News from the Ministerial Meeting on Immunization, Addis Ababa, 24-25 February 2016

1) Civil society declaration

Civil society was very much in evidence at the Addis Ababa meeting, which closed with the signing, by governments, of a declaration in favor of further support to vaccination, with universal vaccination and health service access in Africa by 2020.

In addition, the CSOs posted their own declaration for signing by member of the general public. You will find it at http://immunizationinafrica2016.org/civilsocietydeclaration/

2) Newspaper Interview on Disease Eradication

“Disease Eradication is a Better Health and Economic Option”

In the run-up to the Addis Ababa meeting, Kimberly Thompson made the case that disease eradication, not long term disease control, is the better option. Her interview with Wycliffe Muga is at http://www.kidrisk.org/ Go to the site, then click “news.”

3) Vaccination as a Best Buy

The frequently quoted benefit:cost figure of $16 to $44 in benefits for every expenditure of $1 on vaccination comes from a Johns Hopkins study, just published in Health Affairs, and summarized at http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-02/jhub-euo020416.php For the full text, go to

http://www.childsurvival.net/?content=com_articles&artid=5562