Wellness & Fitness

Are vaccinations driven by the need for a healthy population or profits?

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Vaccination campaigns in Nairobi: Vaccines are largely controlled by an elite club of few industry players. PHOTO | FILE

The ongoing measles rubella vaccination campaign and the recently ended polio vaccination have stirred up debate among parents, religious and health organisations.

Last year a scene played out between a religious denomination and the Health ministry over allegations of hidden motives in the vaccine campaigns. This serves as a pointer to Kenyans’ growing suspicion of vaccinations.

These sentiments are however not just limited to parents but also health system managers and economists due to the cost versus benefit analysis of some vaccines.

Last year, the global vaccine industry was valued at about $28 billion (Sh2.8 trillion). This figure is a small fraction of the world pharma industry, accounting for just under four per cent of pharma sales in 2015, according to WHO and the Vaccine Industry Report.

However, the reason the segment is attractive for pharma is its relatively higher projected growth. Year-on-end growth averages about 12 per cent. This annual growth is guaranteed as most of the developing countries adopt mainstream vaccination programmes and other vaccines previously deemed “luxuries”.

A glance at the changing trend of the Kenya Expanded Programme on Immunisation (KEPI) Schedule over the years shows more vaccines incorporated into the national vaccination schedule. No doubt this number will increase as threats from new and emerging diseases occur. Looking at the four generations in my family indicates this.

My grandmother, who died last year, lived to quite an old age. Ironically, the number of vaccines she received are unknown but it is unlikely to surpass three.

My father, in his 60s, received not more than five vaccines as a child. The KEPI schedule, under which I was vaccinated, had about 10 vaccines per child.

In between I have received a few other vaccinations necessary for travel and as a health worker.

The latest schedule has added several vaccines to the fold, rising to about 13 essential vaccines per child. These will likely grow to 20 for the next generation.

But are vaccinations a good strategy or profit driven businesses with hidden agendas?

As opposed to other pharma drugs, vaccines are largely controlled by an elite club of few industry players. This is explained by their complex research and manufacturing needs.

Secondly, while medicines have generics, few equivalents exist for human vaccines. This means the “exclusivity” of the manufacturers is maintained.

A few groups have shared sentiments on the sometimes unnecessary vaccinations. However as health workers, the evidence exists that they do work and are an important approach to health programmes.

Newly introduced KEPI vaccines like Hepatitis B, Human Papilloma Virus and others have been shown to protect against infections associated with higher risks of developing some forms of cancer.

Bear the larger cost

This is reason enough to support their incorporation. What health economists and critics are arguing about however, is the cost implication of a widened schedule.

Recent reports that the Global Vaccines Alliance, which has been supporting our vaccine programme funding, is pulling out means the government must now bear the larger cost.

This portends a challenge as has been noted with the hiccups in purchases of vaccines this year.

Some observers say the model used; free for a while before paying, is risky as it encourages consumption beyond a nation’s means.

Thus, while sponsors may recommend more vaccines; will the government afford carrying on when they pull out?

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