Better understanding of demand has important benefits for the financing of vaccine supply.  More accurate prediction of demand allows the public sector to better manage the generation and allocation of limited funding.  This applies both across the many vaccine-related agendas, as well as over time.  In addition, more accurate demand estimation should improve the confidence of the public sector to enter longer-term contracts with the private sector.  Historically, the lack of predictability of demand has led to shorter-term contracts as a way of minimizing risk, which has led to less favorable economic concessions from manufacturers.

4. Communication and Advocacy

Despite its global impact on child health caused by rotavirus, knowledge and awareness of rotavirus is extremely low.  Key decision makers at the country and global levels do not currently have sufficient knowledge of the disease to make decisions about the use of rotavirus vaccines. Similarly, end users such as physicians, health care workers and parents, are equally unaware of the disease and the potential benefits offered by a vaccine. 
 

To better determine current levels of knowledge about rotavirus, attitudes towards diarrheal disease and diarrheal disease management practices, and to further identify the information needs required for decision makers, RVP and it’s private sector partners will conduct audience research in several developing countries.  Using this qualitative audience research data the partnership will be developing and implementing a global rotavirus awareness campaign aimed at increasing the level of decision maker understanding of rotavirus and rotavirus vaccines, and to develop messages that help to make rotavirus vaccine introduction a priority. 

Conclusion

Successfully introducing rotavirus vaccines into developing countries has tremendous implications for child health and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.  It will require that partnerships be formed, not only public and private, but with governments, global health organizations, and donor agencies, with one purpose in mind:  reach children in developing countries with appropriate rotavirus vaccines as quickly as possible.  The Rotavirus Vaccine Program is ensuring the success of this mission by creating partnership models that will yield results that inform decision makers about the importance, viability and sustainability of adopting these new vaccines. 
 

¹ Parashar UD, Hummelmann EG, Bresee JS, Miller MA, Glass RI.  Global illness and deaths caused by rotavirus disease in children.  Emerging Infectious Diseases.  Vol. 9, No. 5, May 2003

² Monsoor O, Shin S, Maher C, 2000.  Assessing New Vaccines for National Immunization Programmes:  A Framework to Assist Decision Makers.  Manila:  World Health Organization.

³ Aylward B, Kane M, Batson A, McNair R, 1994.  A framework for the evaluation of vaccine for use in the Expanded Program on Immunization.  Vaccine 12:  1155-1159.

⁴ Monsoor O, et al.

⁵ Levine MM, Levine OS.  Influence of disease burden, public perception, and other factors on new vaccine development, implementation, and continued use.  Lancet 1997; 350: 1386-92.

⁶ Parashar UD, et al.

⁷ Bresee J, Fang Z-Y, Wang B, Nelson EAS, Tam J, Soenarto Y, et al. First report from the Asian Rotavirus Surveillance Network. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2004 Jun [date cited]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol10no6/03-0519.htm

⁸ Aylward B, et al.