THE CRISIS IN VACCINE SUPPLY - A FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION

Immunization programmes, having made significant progress in protectin g over 80% of the world's children against six vaccine-preventable dis eases, are now facing a crisis in funding for their vaccine supply. Co ntributing to this situation are changing donor priorities, rising pri ces, increased needs for vaccines for new disease control initiatives, and the availability of costly new or improved vaccines. The Task For ce on Situation Analysis for Vaccine Supply (TFSA) of the Children's V accine initiative (CVI) has developed a framework which provides a log ical division of countries into groups that might share similar vaccin e supply systems. This framework provides a basis on which to analyse the needs and potential solutions for vaccine supply in countries base d on their populations, national wealth, and current ability to produc e vaccine. This framework has facilitated the development of strategie s to strengthen national vaccine supply systems. it has also provided guidance for governments, donor's and development agencies on tire mos t appropriate actions for assuring the objective of sustainable vaccin e supply.