Since 2009, IVAC has joined the immunization community in observing World Pneumonia Day on November 12th – a chance to bring global awareness to pneumonia as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under 5.
For over 10 years, IVAC’s annual Pneumonia & Diarrhea Progress Report has tracked the progress against two of the leading killers of children worldwide: pneumonia and diarrhea. This year’s report highlights the exceptional progress that has been made despite the set-backs of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each year, we evaluate the progress across 10 key indicators outlined in the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhea (GAPPD) in the 15 countries with the greatest burden of pneumonia and diarrhea deaths in children under 5. Along with the annual report, IVAC is debuting a new open data resource on the VIEW-hub platform to connect advocates and researchers with the latest available data on 10 key childhood pneumonia and diarrhea indicators across 194 countries.
Despite global efforts to increase access to life-saving pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, pneumonia remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under 5. In recognition of World Pneumonia Day 2023, the International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health brought together experts from a range of disciplines to discuss novel tools and strategies to protect children everywhere against this deadly disease.
Featured Speakers:
Mathuram Santosham, MD Keynote – The Conquest of Pneumococcus: Past, Present, and the Future
Alison Hill, PhD, MPH Mathematical Models of Respiratory Infections: Advances + Challenges from the COVID-19 Era
William Moss, MD, MPH Microarray Patches: A Life-Saving Approach for Measles Vaccination
Anita Shet, MD, PhD Power of the PCV: Saving Lives Globally with Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
Prachi Singh Perspectives of Pregnant and Lactating Women in Kenya to Inform Demand Generation Efforts for Maternal RSV Vaccines
Anthony D. So, MD, MPA Pneumonia and Antimicrobial Resistance: Taking a Systems Approach
Voices from the Ground: Advocating for Pneumonia Prevention Worldwide
In commemoration of World Pneumonia Day, IVAC's Global Advocacy for PCV (GAP) project is honored to share poignant perspectives from individuals on the front lines of the battle against pneumonia. These voices from Thailand, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, and South Sudan shed light on the urgent need for universal introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and the importance of raising awareness of the burden of pneumonia.
The quotes below from in-country immunization stakeholders capture the challenges faced and the collective call for action in these diverse regions. These voices illustrate a shared commitment to advocating for PCV introduction and enhancing pneumonia awareness, highlighting the immediate need for preventive measures as well as the significance of collaboration and awareness in the fight against pneumonia. We invite you to join us in amplifying these voices as we work together to make a lasting impact on global health.
VIEW-hub, a map-based platform for visualizing data on vaccine use and impact, hosts resources and maps on PCV immunization introduction, access, coverage, impact, and outcomes.
The Immunization Agenda 2030’s Framework for Action articulates three Impact Goals for the next decade: Prevent Disease, Promote Equity, and Build Strong Programmes. Explore global progress toward 90% coverage of PCV3 with visualizations of the latest data.
