Serum’s meningitis vaccine can withstand temperatures of up to 40° C

16 Nov 2012

1

A meningitis vaccine, known as MenAfriVac, created by the Serum Institute of India to meet the needs of Africa's meningitis belt, has now been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for use in locations that lack refrigeration, researchers said.

The India-made meningitis A vaccine can be kept in a controlled temperature chain (CTC) at temperatures of up to 40° C for up to four days, a breakthrough, which could help combat the disease in poor countries.

The innovative vaccine also costs less than $0.50 per dose, dramatically reducing the disease burden in the countries that introduce it.

The vaccine would also help increase campaign efficiency and coverage while saving on funds normally spent on maintaining cold chains.

The review and decisions of the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has been supported by a Health Canada analysis and confirmed by the WHO Vaccines Pre-qualification Programme, Godwin Enwere, medical director for the meningitis vaccine project revealed this during the ASTMH conference in Atlanta.

MenAfriVac is the first vaccine designed specifically to combat meningococcal A epidemics in Africa's ''meningitis belt,'' which includes 26 countries from Senegal to Ethiopia.

Business History Videos

History of hovercraft Part 3 | Industry study | Business History

History of hovercraft Part 3...

Today I shall talk a bit more about the military plans for ...

By Kiron Kasbekar | Presenter: Kiron Kasbekar

History of hovercraft Part 2 | Industry study | Business History

History of hovercraft Part 2...

In this episode of our history of hovercraft, we shall exam...

By Kiron Kasbekar | Presenter: Kiron Kasbekar

History of Hovercraft Part 1 | Industry study | Business History

History of Hovercraft Part 1...

If you’ve been a James Bond movie fan, you may recall seein...

By Kiron Kasbekar | Presenter: Kiron Kasbekar

History of Trams in India | Industry study | Business History

History of Trams in India | ...

The video I am presenting to you is based on a script writt...

By Aniket Gupta | Presenter: Sheetal Gaikwad

view more
View details about the software product Informachine News Trackers