Vaccines - a wonderful tool for equity in health

Equity is a word representing one of the most important concerns for planners, politicians and the academia, It comes as an answer to the permanent rediscovery of inequity in the benefits of progress among the peoples of the world. Inequity in the distribution of risks for health and disease is a finding that comes on and on again in real life and in the literature. Inequity in disease burden is clearly related to poverty and the eradication of poverty is the mission for every government and international assistance organisations. Development is also not only a precondition for justice but for peace and stability. Health is seen more and more as preceding development and not only as a consequence of wealth. Therefore many things can and must be done in health to achieve development and of course, equity. This concept has been crucial in the new orientation of WHO and our agency is working hard on its promotion at every level. Vaccines are with us as a simple and effective tool for two centuries. The research and development of new vaccines and all in the underlining knowledge has been much faster than its utilization and there is a huge gap to fill in accessibility and actual coverage. World Health Organization (WHO) has been involved all its life in the promotion of disease control and eradication through the use of immunisation techniques. Presently we are part of GAVI and our Vaccines and Biologicals Department has undergone an important modernisation in order to achieve better performance in pursuing three main objectives. Innovation, Immunisation Systems improvement and Accelerated Disease Control. Therefore in order to walk at a faster pace in the better utilisation of vaccines as a tool for equity, we must join forces and participate actively in all the initiatives that are underway. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.