Human vaccine research and development: an overview.

One-fifth of global mortality, especially in children under the age of five is due to infectious diseases. Vaccines are effective at combating these diseases, as shown by the success of smallpox eradication, the impressive progress towards polio eradication, the significant achievements in measles mortality reduction and many others. New safe and effective vaccines must be developed for a variety of infections of public health importance against which no effective preventive intervention measure is either available or practical. In addition, appropriate mechanisms should be put in place to ensure access for all children to the needed vaccines. To meet these challenges, a new paradigm needs to be built among all stakeholders of immunization, including countries, industry, research institutions, foundations and international agencies like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF). Importantly, developing countries should be empowered to participate actively in the development and introduction of new vaccines according to their national priorities.