Also in Global Health News: Childhood vaccines; USAID administrator; Pakistan polio fight; UNICEF fundraising; measles in India

Nov 4 2009

The International Examines Contributing Factors To Uneven Distribution Of Childhood Vaccines

As a follow-up to the release of the State of the World's Vaccines and Immunization by the WHO, UNICEF and World Bank last month, The International examines the findings that "despite child vaccinations hitting a record-high with about 106 million infants being immunised this year, life-saving vaccines fail to reach some 24 million children in 72 of the world's poorest countries," many of whom, "are estimated to be most at risk from vaccine-preventable diseases," the publication writes. After highlighting examples of successful vaccination campaigns around the world, the article outlines how issues of cost, difficulties accessing children in remote regions and fears over safety complicate the delivery of vaccinations (Shakil, 11/4).

Al Jazeera Video Discusses USAID Administrator Vacancy

An Al Jazeera video looks at some of the issues facing USAID, focusing on its leadership vacancy. "On the campaign trail, candidate Obama promised to build a modern development agency … But nine months into his term, President [Barack] Obama still hasn't found anyone to run USAID." The video includes interviews with a State Department official and others following the issue (Halkett, 11/4).

IPS Examines Polio Vaccination In Pakistan

Inter Press Service examines challenges facing polio vaccination campaigns in Pakistan. "But while the Taliban may no longer be a threat to the administration of polio vaccine, hard-line clerics are still vigorously campaigning in restive northwest Pakistan against polio vaccination, claiming it is a tool of the United States to render people incapable of producing children," according to IPS (Yusufzai, 11/3).

Forbes Examines Fundraising By U.S. Fund For UNICEF

Forbes examines how the efforts of Caryl Stern, chief executive for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, has worked to "modernize the [UNICEF] brand." Its endorsement of young celebrities and fundraising with corporate sponsors and donors seem to have paid off. "In the year ended in July the U.S. Fund for UNICEF raised $486 million, an 8% increase over the previous year--an impressive gain, given that donations to U.S. charities were off 2% last year, according to Giving USA," the news service writes. "The biggest challenge for us is getting our agenda, in an ever-competing world of agendas, out there," Stern said (Streib, 11/3).

Public Health Experts Say India's Effort To Control Measles Is 'Largely Unsuccessful'

During a meeting last week, public health experts in India reported that the country's attempts to control measles to date have been largely unsuccessful, "with the estimated number of annual deaths from the infection stubbornly high at about 130,000," BMJ News reports. "The report from the three day consultation, to be submitted to the Indian health ministry, has attributed the failure to inadequate immunisation, poor surveillance, and lack of basic health services in several states," the journal writes. The report authors call on the government to improve surveillance and vaccine coverage (Mudur, 11/3).