Reaching more children with vaccines in developing countries: key challenges of innovation and delivery

Abstract

As we reach the deadline for the United Nations fourth Millennium Development Goal to reduce child mortality, many inequalities in vaccine access still exist, particularly for children in developing countries. Here we discuss some of the barriers to vaccine access in these countries, as well as some of the innovative approaches that could address these. Finally, we discuss the need to create a global environment conducive to innovation directed at low-resource settings, aimed to ultimately increase vaccine coverage.

Keywords: :

• Child mortality
• Policy
• Technological innovations
• Vaccines

Transparency

Declaration of funding

This work was supported by Janssen Infectious Diseases and Vaccines.

Author contributions: The authors meet criteria for authorship as recommended by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. We take full responsibility for the scope, direction, content of, and editorial decisions relating to the manuscript, were involved at all stages of development and have approved the submitted manuscript.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

O.P. and P.I.d.P. have disclosed that they are employees of Janssen Infectious Diseases and Vaccines.

Acknowledgments

Medical writing assistance was provided by Laura George, on behalf of Complete HealthVizion, and was contracted and compensated by Janssen Infectious Diseases and Vaccines.