At the WHO’s World Summit For Children in September 29-30, 1990 the Children’s Vaccine Initiative (CVI) was launched with the aim of getting 80% of the world’s children under the age of 1 year vaccinated with “under-used” vaccines by the year 2000. The program was co-sponsoered by UNICEF, UNPG, World Bank and Rockefeller Foundation. With the overarching “goal” to achieve a world in which all people at risk are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases. [1, 2]
The objective was not only to increase the number of vaccine antigens available to children, but to provide multivalent vaccine formulations that may be administered with fewer inoculations. [3]
Since 1974 the WHO EPI has been running. On March 12, 1991 the UNICEF Vaccine Independence Initiative (VII) was created, to assist developing countries to pay for WHO apporved vaccines and ensure long term supply to “sustain universal child immunization” and help eradicate polio, infant tetanus and control measles. This initiative is renewed every 5 years! [3, 5]
IN 1990, 77% (4.1 billiion) of the world’s population live in developing countries, but only accounted for 21% of the US$130 billion world’s drug consumption. Vaccine producers represented ~1% of total pharmaceutical industry, and ere concentrated to a few firms. [4]