Vaccines
Vaccines offer massive gains to global health. They have controlled many infectious diseases and now promise to overcome cervical cancer, Hepatitis B and C.
In future, vaccines may prevent many sexually transmitted diseases including chlamydia, herpes and ultimately HIV.
Baird’s CMC has the expertise and experience to help you address the complex challenges in this area from market preparedness to policy development, reimbursement models and implementation.
Vaccines are one of the most successful and cost-effective health investments in history.
GAVI Alliance[1]
Vaccines are undoubtedly the stars of global public health. Since the introduction in 1974 of the Expanded Programme of Immunization, more children’s lives have been saved and more disability and lost years of productivity prevented than for any other public health intervention in the 20th Century, apart from clean water and sanitation.
Not surprisingly, much hope is pinned on the next generation of vaccines for cancers and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as the continued search for a safe, effective vaccine for HIV.
Before these new vaccines arrive, the world still faces the challenge of achieving consistently high coverage for the vaccines it already has. The World Health Organization estimates that, by 2070 GAVI Alliance-funded vaccination could prevent 200,000 cases of cervical cancer and 100,000 deaths in some of the highest-burden countries (Jit, M et al 2014) if, for example,71 phase 2 GAVI-eligible countries adopt vaccination according to forecasts. It all depends on getting the vaccine to the women and girls who need it.
What we’ve done
- examined the drivers and barriers to adopting an HIV vaccine in 28 countries and estimated the likely market in seven (for a major vaccines producer)
- been involved with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative since its earliest days as part of the Rockefeller Foundation and helped to set up both its communications function and its international programmes
- supported the Human Vaccines Project with communications strategy and stakeholder engagement
- worked to promote immunization and uptake of HPV vaccines in low and middle income countries
- worked on the introduction and use of hepatitis B vaccines in many different kinds of countries
- worked on a herpes zoster vaccine in Europe
- looked at likely future markets and enthusiasts for a hepatitis C vaccine
- helped PATH to promote appropriate vaccines, including DPT, during pregnancy
Vaccines present many challenges, requiring support at the highest levels of global policy and demanding sensitivity and flexibility in reimbursement discussions.
They also require effective, locally appropriate implementation programmes built on accurate, trustworthy local knowledge. This is true of all vaccines but may be particularly true of those which prevent illnesses transmitted through sex or from mothers to children.
The team at Baird’s CMC knows these daunting challenges well.
Our understanding of this formidable territory has been built on years of practical experience delivering effective research, communications and governmental relations.
Our experience will help you anticipate and overcome challenges and help you identify and make the most of opportunities.
Baird’s CMC has worked on HPV vaccines in both industrialised and middle-income countries. They have also figured large in many of our projects for Gavi, the Vaccines Alliance.
In India, we looked at the catastrophic events following irrational, highly politicised criticism of some demonstration projects. We highlighted what scientists, producers and governments could do to win the public opinion battle and secure introduction of HPV vaccines.
Sadly, they are still not available in the public sector and the death toll from cervical cancer keeps growing — it now claims over 80,000 Indian women a year.
Baird’s CMC has substantial cross sector experience in supporting novel financing mechanisms, policy development and implementation for vaccines. We have a long working relationship both with IAVI and Gavi and multilateral agencies supporting immunisation.
