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New and underused vaccines

Speeding up the introduction of new and underused vaccines in developing countries is one of GAVI's key goals. From the many new vaccines becoming available GAVI carefully evaluates which it will offer to the world's poorest countries.

Looking ahead

Diseases of immediate prime concern are:

  • pneumonia
  • diarrhoea
In 2007 GAVI began supporting the introduction of new vaccines against pneumococcal disease and rotavirus, which cause these illnesses, to GAVI countries for the first time.

Countries where these vaccines are licensed and ready for use have already started to apply for support. See the countries approved for pneumococcal vaccine and for rotavirus vaccine.

But which vaccines will GAVI support next?

With many new vaccines coming on line to address many of the diseases threatening children of the developing world, the vaccine landscape will grow increasingly complex during GAVI’s second phase of operation (2006-2015). The Alliance has developed a comprehensive vaccine investment strategy to determine which vaccines it will offer to countries in the future, ensuring the best use of resources and maximum immunisation impact.

GAVI's initial strategy

In its first phase of operations (2000-2005), the GAVI Alliance focused on the introduction of underused vaccines and combination products that advantageously reduce the number of shots per child. Support continues to be given to the following vaccines.

  • Hepatitis B (HepB) is a major cause of liver cancer and a significant cause of mortality across the world. Infection usually occurs during infancy or childhood but the deadly consequences strike in adulthood. Vaccine protection has been available in industrialised countries since the early 1980s, but was still not widely used in developing countries a decade later. With GAVI support it has been quickly adopted by many GAVI-eligible countries – with strong results. It is currently the most popular vaccine offered by GAVI. 
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b is a newer vaccine and less well-known – particularly outside Africa – for pneumonia and meningitis diseases, which cause about 400,000 deaths a year. To accelerate its uptake, and to provide information about it and the disease burden caused by Hib, GAVI funded the creation of the Hib Initiative. See countries approved for Hib vaccine and the global results.

  • Yellow fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever transmitted by infected mosquitoes. It is untreatable and fatality rates can exceed 50%. Immunisation offers protection. A single dose of a safe, inexpensive and reliable vaccine protects against the disease for at least 10 years and possibly for life. See countries approved for yellow fever vaccine and the global results

GAVI's policies to accelerate access and availability of vaccines