International Vaccine Access Center Calls for Action on Second Annual World Meningitis Day

Accelerating Global Access to Vaccines Can Save Lives Now

On Saturday, April 24, the International Vaccine Access Center at Johns Hopkins (IVAC) will join partners in recognition of World Meningitis Day, a global effort to unite in the fight against viral and bacterial meningitis.

Meningitis is a serious infection that leads to the inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Bacterial meningitis alone kills or disables 40-75 percent of the children who contract it, and for those who survive, the effects can range from hearing loss and limb amputation to severe brain damage.

World Meningitis Day 2010 provides a vital opportunity to educate people everywhere about the dangers of meningitis – arming them with the information not only to protect themselves and their families, but also to call on governments and policymakers to prioritize meningitis prevention and take action.

Prevention of meningitis through vaccination against three of its primary causes – Hib, pneumococcus and meningococcus – is the best way to protect children. Nowhere is this more true than in the developing world, where meningitis is prevalent and its victims are the least likely to have access to urgent medical care.

Progress is being made, but more can be done to accelerate access to life-saving vaccines in the developing world. At IVAC, we are committed to ensuring this access through the development and implementation of evidence-based policies that support disease prevention. Today, we call on parents, healthcare providers and policymakers to prioritize proven prevention and treatment solutions, and to do their part to help ensure vaccines are available everywhere they are needed.