The World Health Organization (WHO) today granted its seal of approval to a vaccine that protects children from a deadly brain infection. The live, attenuated Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine, known as SA 14-14-2 and manufactured in China through a unique partnership with PATH, has the potential to protect millions of children in Asia against the devastating infection.

“With WHO prequalification, we can accelerate the availability of a safe, affordable vaccine to children who need it most,” said Dr. Kathleen Neuzil, director of PATH’s Vaccine Access and Delivery program. “It’s a landmark moment that signals the power of collaboration in tackling this devastating disease and bringing lifesaving solutions to vulnerable communities.”

A historic moment

From negotiating an affordable public-sector price for the vaccine to constructing a new manufacturing facility, PATH and the Chengdu Institute of Biological Products (CDIBP) have worked toward this tremendous milestone for more than ten years with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

WHO’s prequalification clears the way for international financing to help bring greater access to the vaccine in low-resource, JE-endemic countries where 4 billion people live in areas at risk for the disease.

JE kills as many as 15,000 people, mostly children, each year and causes lifelong disabilities for tens of thousands more. The disease, transmitted by mosquitoes, is untreatable, which makes prevention even more critical.

Tapping into China’s capacity to improve health

The vaccine is the first-ever Chinese vaccine to receive WHO prequalification, marking China’s debut as a manufacturer of high-quality vaccines for the global health marketplace. The model has the potential to have a long-term effect on the availability and affordability of more vaccines for the people who need them most.

PATH harnessed our technical expertise and forged effective partnerships to help distribute the vaccine beyond China, where it has been used successfully for more than two decades, to reach millions more people in poor countries with affordable and sustainable protection. Outside of China, more than 200 million people in India, Cambodia, Nepal, and eight other countries have already received SA 14-14-2—the first JE vaccine prequalified for use in children—with stellar results.

Source:PATH