Prof David Walwyn’s article on “Why manufacturing a key vaccine in South Africa is so important” has been published on The Conversation.

Introduction: South Africa has been granted a licence to manufacture one of the world’s most important vaccines. It’s the first time the country will be able to do so since the mid 1990s, and ​the license deal will result in many positive spin-offs for the country. The hexavalent vaccine Hexaxim is used to vaccinate children against six life-threatening infectious diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis (whooping cough), inactivated polio, Haemophilus influenza type b and hepatitis B. It is a vital component of South Africa’s expanded programme on immunisation and more than 3 million children are vaccinated ​under this programme ​every year. ​Of the ​14 vaccines ​are ​administered between the ages of 0 and 2 years​, four are Hexaxim. ​ ​As a result of this programme, the number of children ​dying ​under the age of five has droppedsignificantly . In 2013,​ ​infant mortality was​  47 409 children, down from 89 418 in 2005.

Read more: http://theconversation.com/why-manufacturing-a-key-vaccine-in-south-africa-is-so-important-94380

Prof Walwyn has also been invited to be interviewed by Kolosa Madikizela, overnight producer at CapeTalk Radio station on his article Why manufacturing a key vaccine in South Africa is so important. The interview has been scheduled for  Friday 20 April at 23:30 pm.

http://theconversation.com/why-manufacturing-a-key-vaccine-in-south-africa-is-so-important-94380