Posted on May 14, 2018
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
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