Vaccines

Mar 06, 2024
Nurse supervisor Joseph Muhisi checks on a suspected cholera patient in Kanyaruchinya, DRC, at a displacement camp for families fleeing the volcanic eruption of the Mount Nyiragongo in 2021. The camp implemented oral cholera vaccine to stem the tide
Blog
Feb 21, 2024
A displacement camp in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Displacement can impact access to routine immunization for children and their families. Credit: PATH/Ley Uwera.   Vaccines are one of the most successful public health interventions to
Blog
Baby Vusi, here with his mother, Teresa, received the oral rotavirus vaccine during the 2012 rotavirus vaccine pilot in Lusaka Province, Zambia. In 2013, Zambia introduced the vaccine nationwide. Hear from Teresa about why she thinks all caregivers should ensure their children are vaccinated against rotavirus.
Feb 07, 2024
Baby Vusi, here with his mother, Teresa, received the oral rotavirus vaccine during the 2012 rotavirus vaccine pilot in Lusaka Province, Zambia. In 2013, Zambia introduced the vaccine nationwide. Hear from Teresa about why she thinks all caregivers
Blog
Jan 24, 2024
Diarrhea is the second leading killer disease of children less than five years old around the world. Diarrheal disease is caused by infection with various bacterial, viral, and parasitic organisms. There are six pathogens that are responsible for
Blog
Two young children await their doses of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in Rwanda.
Dec 13, 2023
Two young children await their doses of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in Rwanda. It is the hope that children under the age of five in Chad, Guinea, Somalia and South Sudan will soon get the opportunity to get their doses of the PCV as
Blog
Nov 01, 2023
Child receives rotavirus vaccine in Kakamega County, Kenya. Photo: PATH/Anthony Karumba.   A decade ago, the groundbreaking Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS) revealed the dangerous relationship between childhood diarrhea and subsequent
Blog
Sep 28, 2023
We couldn't let Lou depart without his own Poo Guru apparel. Photo: Allison Clifford.   It’s the end of an era for PATH and for the DefeatDD team. After 15 years at PATH, Dr. Lou Bourgeois, a well-known investigator in the field of enteric vaccine
Blog
Sep 20, 2023
A nurse administers a rotavirus vaccine in Kakamega County, Kenya. Photo: PATH/Anthony Karumba. Nearly all African countries have introduced rotavirus vaccines or plan to do so within the next couple of years. The vaccines are safe, effective, and
Blog
Sep 15, 2023
In settings where medical care can be difficult to access, prevention through vaccination is the best way to protect children against the leading causes of severe diarrhea. Vaccines against rotavirus are already making a significant impact; vaccines
Graphics
Aug 23, 2023
More than 300 rotavirus vaccine superstars gathered at the International Rotavirus Symposium in Bali, Indonesia, earlier this year. Photo: PATH/Hope Randall. Rotavirus remains a common cause of severe diarrhea in young children in Indonesia. Last
Blog
Jun 29, 2023
Families collect water in a displacement camp outside Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where they were forced to flee after a volcanic eruption. Photo: PATH/Ley Uwera.    US scientists have confirmed that a weather event known as El Niño
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Speaker panel on stage
Jun 08, 2023
At the 2nd Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia, leaders renewed commitments to accelerate progress in child survival. Photo: Every Breath Counts. Every year in Somalia, diarrhea infections claim the lives of 9,000 children younger than five years
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Man holding a set of oral vaccine vials
Apr 25, 2023
Health supervisor Joseph Muhisi holding oral cholera vaccine outside a displacement camp in Nyiragongo outside the city of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo: PATH/Ley Uwera. The latest published UNICEF’s State of the World's Children (SOWC
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Young Indian girl stands amongst other seated children
Mar 13, 2023
Photo: PATH.  Rotavirus has the potential to impact every child in every country, rich or poor, regardless of access to safe water and sanitation. But the majority of deaths from rotavirus occur in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia in
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Clinician administers oral rotavirus vaccine to Kenyan child being held by their mother
Mar 10, 2023
  Annet Onyamasi administers an oral rotavirus vaccine to a child at the Khwisero Health Clinic in Kenya.​​​ Photo: PATH.  The world has quickly become accustomed to vaccines on demand, as scientists and pharmaceutical companies pursue and release
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Four mothers holding their children
Mar 07, 2023
In 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) approved for global use vaccines against rotavirus, the most lethal cause of severe childhood diarrhea. Dr. George Armah was among the researchers who made it possible, starting his career in on rotavirus
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Black and white photo of a girl with a water can
Feb 16, 2023
Photo: PATH. Cholera is a major global health threat, affecting communities in endemic countries where access to safe water and adequate sanitation is limited. Despite significant progress in reducing the number of cholera cases and deaths, the
Blog
Dr. Qadri
Feb 08, 2023
One of the scientific titans in the cholera vaccine area is Dr. Firdausi Qadri. She has played a crucial role in the clinical development, evaluation, global introduction, and advocacy of oral cholera vaccines (OCV). She oversees  a large group of
Blog
Three vaccine vials in an ice box
Jan 18, 2023
Researchers are working to advance a vaccine against Shigella. Here, one of the candidates is being prepped for use in a clinical study. Photo: PATH. This post originally appeared on the PATH website. Shigella remains an underappreciated child
Blog
Signs of Poo Guru wisdom
Dec 13, 2022
“No diarrhea; more smiles.” “The answers are in the poop.” This and more poo-etic wisdom from our the VASE Conference attendees graced the open spaces between the poster presentations. PATH recently hosted its third international Vaccines Against
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Health worker with mask holds a vaccine syringe
Nov 23, 2022
A health worker in Nepal prepares a typhoid vaccine. Photo: PATH. When there is danger downstream, it helps to have a strategy—and the right equipment—before you find yourself in rough waters. In the shifting currents of global health, prevention
Blog
Nov 10, 2022
The Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea outlines an integrated approach to simultaneously tackle these leading infectious killers of children. Scores are steadily rising in Mali, and children are the clear
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Map of zero dose children target and how trends fall short
Nov 03, 2022
An example of the kind of charts available through the Immunization Agenda 2030 scorecard, this image conveys how global trends fall short of zero-dose children coverage targets.    The Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) scorecard is a new publicly
Blog
Sep 18, 2022
Meet the Poo Guru! She is flush with facts about toilets, sanitation, and their vital role in global health.  Vaccines protect against waterborne diseases like typhoid and cholera, which can thrive when sanitation is lacking. Together, sanitation
Graphics
Baby in Nigeria gets oral rotavirus vaccine
Aug 22, 2022
Baby Abdullahi being vaccinated with five drops of rotavirus vaccine during the official launch. Photo: CHAI/Dr. Belinda Uba. Author: Omotayo A. Giwa, Program Manager-Vaccines, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)Countributors: Dr. Owens Wiwa,
Blog
Group photo of staff members in a conference room in Ghana
May 25, 2022
The PATH Ghana team hosted a meeting in Accra on May 24, 2022 to share the results of the ROTAVAC switch costing study with interested stakeholders and partners. Photo: PATH/Patience Dapaah.   Editor's note: The manuscript for this study is now
Blog
Health worker in Nepal draws vaccine into a syringe. PATH/Rocky Prajapati
Feb 22, 2022
While the world continues to battle COVID-19, it’s encouraging to see that research on other public health priorities is still making strides. Although the development of new interventions for diarrheal diseases has slowed during the pandemic, there
Blog
Women sitting outside Chiradzulu Health Center, Malawi
Feb 07, 2022
Photo: Mothers wait outside Chiradzulu District Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. The RoVI study compared immune responses to rotavirus vaccines across children in Malawi, India, and the United Kingdom. PATH/Miren Iturriza-Gomara   Rotavirus is the
Blog
Nov 17, 2021
Over 800,000 children under 5 die from pneumonia each year—that’s one child every 39 seconds. Pneumonia continues to kill more children worldwide than any other infectious disease. Diarrheal diseases—the second leading infectious cause of death of
Blog
Baby in Kenya receives oral rotavirus vaccine
Nov 15, 2021
The African continent shoulders the largest share – 71% - of global childhood deaths due to rotavirus diarrhea. As a result, African scientists, advocates, and government decision-makers have led incredible progress in developing and delivering
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Annet Onyamasi (left) administers an oral rotavirus vaccine to an infant in Khwisero, Kenya. PATH/Anthony Karumba
Nov 04, 2021
As participants gather virtually this week for the 13th African Rotavirus Symposium, organized by the University of Nairobi, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the South African Medical Research Council, the Rotavirus Organization of Technical
Blog
Healthcare worker fills a syringe for injection
Oct 27, 2021
Here in Ghana, we introduced rotavirus vaccine into our national immunization program in April 2012 and our rotavirus vaccine coverage rates are consistently high. Despite this, many of our children still suffer from rotavirus diarrhea, with an
Blog
Laboratory technician in Kenya looks in a microscope
Oct 06, 2021
E. coli, Shigella, Cryptosporidium, Salmonella. Among infected children, these gut pathogens can cause serious illness, long-term consequences such as stunted growth and weakened immunity, and, too often, death. That’s why scientists and advocates
Blog
Infant in Gaza receives ROTAVAC from healthcare worker while mother looks on
Sep 15, 2021
Rotavirus, the leading cause of severe childhood diarrheal illness and deaths, represented a significant public health burden in Palestine prior to the introduction of rotavirus vaccination. Surveillance of diarrheal and rotavirus-specific disease
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In which MICs would rotavirus vaccines have the greatest benefit?
Aug 18, 2021
Rotavirus vaccines are the best way to prevent illness caused by rotavirus, the most common cause of severe and fatal diarrhea in children under 5 years of age. Since 2006, over 110 countries have introduced rotavirus vaccines in their national
Blog
Participants view posters at VASE 2018
Aug 09, 2021
As everyone knows, the world has changed considerably in the last 18 months. In March 2020, we were busy getting ready for our third biennial Vaccines Against Shigella and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) Conference—known as the VASE
Blog
Jul 19, 2021
On Friday, July 16, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) released its first updated rotavirus vaccine position paper since 2013. WHO’s position papers summarize all currently known research relevant to a vaccination against a certain pathogen
Blog
Nurse in Zambia administers ROTAVAC to an infant as part of PATH and CIDRZ clinical study
May 12, 2021
Rotavirus vaccines are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the best way to prevent rotavirus, the leading cause of severe and deadly diarrhea in young children worldwide. A new rotavirus vaccine from Bharat Biotech, India—ROTAVAC
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Nurse at Gulu Independent Hospital, Uganda, speaks to women and children at a vaccination event
May 05, 2021
Photo: A nurse speaks to a group of women and children at a vaccination event at Gulu Independent Hospital, Uganda. Uganda’s Integrated Child Health Days offer an opportunity to reach women and children with a wide array of lifesaving services. PATH
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Researcher in Zambia looks into microscope
Apr 13, 2021
Rotavirus remains a leading cause of diarrheal disease in children, particularly in Africa and Asia. The globally available live, oral rotavirus vaccines are substantially reducing severe rotavirus diarrhea and making a major impact in countries
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Rotavirus under a microscope
Mar 16, 2021
COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of studying virus diversity and the emergence of virus variants to ensure that vaccines remain effective. But in the field of virology, the potential for virus diversity to impact the effectiveness of vaccines
Blog
Mar 01, 2021
Watch Teresa's story as part of a video series!
Video
Dr. Rubhana Raqib with science graphics
Feb 10, 2021
“I think building a career in science is really great for women. It gives them self-respect. People value a scientist’s opinion.” - Dr. Rubhana Raqib, World Academy of Sciences Fellow   In January of this year, Dr. Rubhana Raqib was selected as
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Infant receives ROTAVAC in India. Monica Tiwari/IVAC
Dec 22, 2020
An infant in Dibrugarh, Assam, India receives ROTAVAC, a lower-cost rotavirus vaccine made in India. In 2020, new rotavirus vaccines and technologies helped expand access despite challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: IVAC/Monica Tiwari  
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Palestinian Ministry of Health case log book
Dec 16, 2020
Switching from one vaccine product to another can have a significant impact on a country’s budget. Health officials need to consider a variety of factors, not just vaccine price alone, to determine if making a switch makes economic sense. Sometimes
Blog
Infant girl receives oral rehydration solution (ORS) at a clinic in Cambodia.
Nov 23, 2020
The number of drug-resistant infections is growing worldwide. By increasing access to recommended tools to prevent and treat diarrhea—vaccines, oral rehydration solution (ORS) + zinc, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH)—we can help slow the
Blog
Nov 16, 2020
As COVID-19 continues to surge over the globe, it forces us to reckon with the fact that true global health equity – universal access to primary healthcare – is an unfinished task that we pay for at our collective expense. Universal access to
Blog
Infant Vusi Jeri receives oral rotavirus vaccine in Zambia
Oct 29, 2020
Baby Vusi receives a rotavirus vaccine while being held by his mother Teresa Jeri at the Chainda clinic in Zambia. New research suggests that malnourished children may be less likely to experience rotavirus diarrhea compared to children with normal
Blog
Empty toilet paper roll and empty toilet dotted outline
Sep 22, 2020
  In wealthy countries, toilet paper hoarding became a reactionary phenomenon in the early months of the pandemic: a case study in stubborn inequity as two billion people around the world don’t have a toilet. Climate change. Inequity. COVID-19 and
Blog
Sleeping baby against a dark background
Sep 01, 2020
At the start of 2020, more children lived to see their first birthday than at any time in history. Child mortality had fallen by 50% since 2000. But the progress did not reach every woman, nor every child. The gains have proven fragile and the
Reports
Close-up of Bangladeshi boy with a shy smile
Aug 14, 2020
This post originally appeared on Vaccines Work.  Diarrheal disease is the second leading infectious killer of children under five worldwide. Lessons learned from tackling this deadly disease could also help us recover from COVID-19 stronger than
Blog
A mother holds her child in Kurawarakura, Ghana. PATH/Evelyn Hockstein
Jul 08, 2020
Photo: A mother holds her child in Kurawarakura, Ghana. By switching to a new, more affordable rotavirus vaccine, decision-makers in Ghana aim to improve the sustainability of its vaccination program to continue protecting children from severe
Blog
CGDev article preview
Jun 27, 2020
In this series, the Center for Global Development provides an overview of modeling data to help policymakers understand the many indirect impacts of the COVID-19 response, both on other disease areas and on health systems.  The key takeaway: "The
Published research
Baby is weighed on a scale at Kuje Primary Health Care Center in Kuje, Nigeria.
Jun 24, 2020
Photo: A young baby is weighed at a routine visit to Kuje Primary Health Care Center in Kuje, Nigeria. If introduced in Nigeria, rotavirus vaccination would protect Nigerian children from the deadliest form of diarrhea. PATH/Evelyn Hockstein   Of
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Two health workers with vaccines walking toward a boat
Jun 03, 2020
Photo: PATH/Doune Porter.   This post also appears on the Take On Typhoid website. It is hard to escape news about vaccines right now. Locally and globally, we are inundated with updates about vaccines against COVID-19 and how a return to life
Blog
Apr 23, 2020
A happy family awaits their child’s receipt of rotavirus vaccine at Rwanda’s launch in 2012.    In public health, we often say that prevention is better than cure. As the whole world pines for the swift arrival of an effective vaccine against
Blog
Apr 21, 2020
In 2019, the World Health Organization added co-packaged ORS and zinc to its Essential List of Medicines. This will improve availability, uptake, and affordability of these lifesaving diarrhea treatments.    UPDATE:  The DefeatDD is heartened that
Blog
Apr 16, 2020
In 1985, a man named Jim Grant, the relatively new director of UNICEF, traveled to the Dominican Republic to meet with President Salvador Jorge Blanco. Blanco was apparently taken by Grant’s charisma and hosted a state dinner in which he asked Grant
Blog
Mar 20, 2020
Sunday is World Water Day, a day that we’ve celebrated at DefeatDD annually for over ten years. It’s always been one of our favorite ways to focus attention to our world’s growing need for clean water – and the actions we must take to attain it
Blog
Mar 12, 2020
Photo: PATH/Minzayar.   This February, the Myanmar Ministry of Health and Sports—with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance—launched the first rotavirus immunization program in the country. Rotarix®,
Blog
Mar 05, 2020
Dr. Anita Zaidi of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a vaccine superhero and an award-winning poo-et!    March 8 is International Women’s Day, and a chance to celebrate women around the globe for their roles as leaders, teachers, mothers
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Feb 11, 2020
This June, leaders from around the world will gather at Gavi’s 3rd donor pledging conference. One of the big questions they will be asked: Will you approve $7.4 billion in financing for another five years of vaccines delivered to children
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Graph demonstrating cost-effectiveness acceptability curve - government perspective
Feb 05, 2020
Rotavirus vaccines are cost-effective. But a new study by PATH and partners helps policymakers decide among the options using important variables beyond price.  This example demonstrates ways in which countries should consider systematically
Published research
Jan 28, 2020
Note: This blog originally appeared on the Take on Typhoid website.    Today marks the first day of the 15th Asian Conference on Diarrhoeal Disease and Nutrition (ASCODD) taking place in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Ahead of the conference, I sat with Dr.
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Female community health volunteer in India demonstrates handwashing to a group of children.
Jan 16, 2020
Water-related health issues like diarrhea and typhoid sit at the intersection of two interventions: vaccination and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Vaccines and WASH are both essential components of primary health care necessary for
Blog
Animated .gif graphic
Jan 16, 2020
Vaccines and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are both necessary to provide communities with comprehensive protection from disease. When both are present, they work even better. Learn more.  Access different formats (.gif, .mp4) of the graphic
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Infographic depicting long-term consequences of diarrheal infections
Jan 09, 2020
Diarrhea is rarely just diarrhea. While the acute infection can be relatively short-term, lingering long-term consequences like stunting, malnutrition, and financial implications often follow. This is especially true for bacterial diarrhea
Blog
Dec 20, 2019
A worker at Serum Institute of India inspects vaccine vials at the company’s vaccine manufacturing division where PNEUMOSIL® and other conjugate vaccines are made. Photo: PATH/Satvir Malhotra.   Editor's note: The World Health Organization and
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Group of smiling children
Dec 11, 2019
I’m delighted to share that last week we announced the dates and location for the third international Vaccines Against Shigella and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) Conference (otherwise known as the VASE Conference) – September 29 to October
Blog
Young boy at a hospital in Bangladesh
Nov 21, 2019
It may not be as significant as the moon landing, but we are feeling a bit like Neil Armstrong during those first steps. This week, exciting results from a clinical trial of an oral vaccine candidate designed to protect against one of the most
Blog
A baby in India receives ROTAVAC rotavirus vaccine.
Nov 06, 2019
Vaccines are the best way to prevent rotavirus, the leading cause of moderate-to-severe diarrhea in children under five years of age worldwide. The rotavirus vaccine landscape is changing, but despite this change, a new analysis confirms that
Blog
Infant receives ROTASIIL at the rotavirus vaccine launch event in Kinshasa, DRC, October 30, 2019.
Oct 31, 2019
Note: This blog is cross-posted on PATH.org.  On October 30, 2019, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) took a bold step forward for child health by introducing rotavirus vaccine in its national immunization program. With the DRC having one
Blog
Oct 16, 2019
A father stands with his recently vaccinated child in West Bengal, India. In settings where sanitation and medical care can be difficult to access, vaccination is the best form of protection against illnesses like diarrhea. Photo: PATH/Julie
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Photo of blog authors
Oct 10, 2019
While surely all researchers are excited when they initiate a new clinical trial, we are feeling particularly energized about a Phase 3 study that we started here in Zambia this week. It is the first efficacy study for a new type of rotavirus
Blog
Sep 27, 2019
This analysis shows that the impact and cost-effectiveness of ETEC and Shigella vaccines are more favorable if vaccinations reach the most vulnerable children in underserved provinces. Read the full article. 
Published research
A baby in Rwanda receives rotavirus vaccine at the launch in 2012. Photo: Merck
Jul 31, 2019
This week, hundreds of people from around the globe are gathering in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the 12th African Rotavirus Symposium. And, this year, we’ll be celebrating some pretty amazing milestones together – 10 years of rotavirus
Blog
Jul 17, 2019
Just the facts: these high-level talking points on diarrheal disease tell you what you need to know about the global crisis and the solutions. Each bullet includes a link to more information. View and share the message map or the plain text below
Message maps
Screen shot of publication in The Lancet Global Health
Jun 25, 2019
A new study in The Lancet Global Health, published alongside this commentary, summarizes a 12-month case-control study conducted as a follow-on to the Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS). Unlike the original GEMS study, which included patients
Published research
Woman stands at a river carrying a water jug
Jun 19, 2019
This post was originally published on the Take on Typhoid blog.   Every year—from South Sudan to Uganda, Myanmar to Bangladesh, Syria to Jordan—millions of people endure long, dangerous and difficult journeys to find safety and refuge. Safety from
Blog
May 16, 2019
Can non-living biological replicas help protect children from severe diarrheal disease?  Sounds eerie, but it’s a key question for Dr. Khuzwayo Jere, a Malawi-based Medical Virologist and Wellcome Trust Research Fellow, whose work on creating
Blog
Mother holds her infant daughter after receiving routine vaccines.
Apr 23, 2019
Mothers go above and beyond to care for their children. When a child falls ill with diarrhea, mothers are usually the first line of treatment—hopefully aided by oral rehydration solution, zinc, and the ability to access healthcare facilities if
Blog
Apr 16, 2019
A mother in Bangladesh holds her infant child, who is receiving an oral dose of rotavirus vaccine. Vaccines against Shigella would help prevent even more cases of severe diarrhea in infants and young children, saving more lives and avoiding longer-
Blog
Apr 11, 2019
A full-circle moment in Lusaka, Zambia: all the charts and figures and advocacy campaigns for rotavirus vaccines had been on behalf of children like Vusi. Photo: PATH/Gareth Bentley.   When I hear people in the United States express skepticism
Blog
Mar 20, 2019
Where there is conflict or unrest, children and families bear the brunt of the burden and fallout from infectious disease outbreaks like cholera and typhoid. Conflicts simply amplify the ongoing diarrheal disease crisis that affects children every
Blog
Mar 01, 2019
Stunting, malnutrition, and household finances are a few of the underappreciated consequences of repeated diarrhea infections. Vaccines against ETEC and Shigella, leading bacterial causes of diarrheal disease, are currently in development and hold
Special Features
Mar 01, 2019
Learn more about how the science behind rotavirus became a reality through our video series!
Video
Mar 01, 2019
This fact sheet describes a PATH project in Vietnam that is focusing on testing a new formulation of a locally made rotavirus vaccine. PATH, Vietnam-based manufacturer POLYVAC (Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals), and
Factsheets
Palestinian infant receives ROTAVAC as part of routine immunization.
Feb 27, 2019
What’s better than one rotavirus vaccine? Four rotavirus vaccines. Having a robust and diverse global market of options for vaccines is beneficial in several ways – it lowers prices, stabilizes supply, gives countries more choices, and, ultimately
Blog
Feb 14, 2019
The DefeatDD team took a few liberties with this rendering of rotavirus. Watch our DefeatDD superheroes in action against this vicious villain.   Fully understanding rotavirus—the tiny, wheel-shaped virus that is the leading cause of severe
Blog
Jan 22, 2019
Over the past 20 years, child deaths in Mongolia have plummeted. Socioeconomic development and child health interventions are working to save lives. But of the child deaths that still occur, a main cause remains a disease that’s entirely preventable
Blog
Dec 20, 2018
Colleagues at our Take the Plunge event demonstrate WASH and vaccine integration… we think.   Personally and professionally, December is my favorite time of year to be reflective, and this year that feels especially the case. I’m not sure if that’
Blog
A group of children holds a ball. Photo: PATH/Teresa Guillien
Nov 19, 2018
In the game of cricket and in most sports, the all-star players are the ones who are best at teamwork. I was the captain of the cricket team at my high school, and I played cricket all the way through medical school. I was the wicket keeper who
Blog
Oct 18, 2018
Jan 24, 2018 Ringing in 2018 with an exciting rotavirus vaccine milestone
Blog
Sep 27, 2018
India has long been a leader in developing safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for the global market, so it should really come as no surprise that, for the second time this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) has prequalified a new
Blog
Sep 15, 2018
Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe childhood diarrhea. It disproportionately burdens impoverished communities of Africa and Southeast Asia. But nearly every child in the world is at risk. Rotavirus infections cannot be treated with antibiotics
Graphics
Sep 12, 2018
Diarrhea: The good, the bad, and what you can do to help address this global crisis. Read the full message map, available in English and French.
Message maps
Sep 10, 2018
Between 2005-2015, child deaths from diarrhea plummeted by 30%. But we now know that the long-term consequences of multiple diarrhea episodes are severe. It isn’t fair that children be saved, just to lose out on a happy, healthy life.    We’ll
Video
Sep 10, 2018
In 2008 I started a job at PATH to promote a childhood vaccine against a nasty infection called “rotavirus.” I had never heard of rotavirus but immediately learned that it’s a major killer – responsible for more child deaths around the world than
Blog
The 13th International Rotavirus Symposium brought together 280 rotavirus experts in Minsk, Belarus from 29-31 August, 2018.
Sep 07, 2018
Vaccines against rotavirus, the leading cause of severe and fatal diarrhea in young children worldwide, are a stunning global public health success story. Their development, evaluation, and introduction and scale-up in many low-income countries
Blog
Aug 22, 2018
Diarrhea. It is often the stuff of comedy, a dreaded first date woe, or an uncomfortable inconvenience after indulging in too much guac. Beyond the silly and the squeamish, though, there’s a more important story to be told: diarrheal disease is a
Blog
Smiling Malawian family with an infant
Aug 14, 2018
Rotavirus is the most common cause of diarrheal disease among infants and young children in all countries. Despite improvements in sanitation and case management, rotavirus still caused 215,000 child deaths in 2013, with 121,000 of these in Africa.
Blog
Jun 29, 2018
Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe and fatal childhood diarrhea around the world. ROTAVAC®, a new low-cost rotavirus vaccine, was developed through an innovative and multisectoral global partnership.
Video
Jun 20, 2018
From left to right: Laura Kallen, PATH; Roma Chilengi, CIDRZ; Hope Randall, PATH. See more photo booth images here.   Is advocacy my job?   That question was asked by presenter Dr. Roma Chilengi from the Centre for Infectious Disease Research,
Blog
Jun 06, 2018
The inaugural 2016 VASE Conference saw the debut of the vaccine superhero; a new DefeatDD photo booth will make an appearance next week.    Jun 01
Blog
May 30, 2018
If you have blood type A, you may be more at risk of diarrhea from enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). This finding was just published in a human challenge model study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation—and it has potentially widespread
Blog
Apr 12, 2018
Australian virologist Professor Ruth Bishop, left, discovered rotavirus in 1973. Photo source: Murdoch Children's Research Institute website. Sep 06
Blog
Apr 10, 2018
This video series is an introduction to rotavirus and the journey of ROTAVAC, an India-made rotavirus vaccine produced in partnership with PATH.
Video
Apr 04, 2018
These crowds are a testament to the Government of Zambia's commitment to social mobilization to raise awareness about the country's oral cholera vaccine campaign. Photo credit: CIDRZ.   Vibrio cholerae can steal through a community quickly and
Blog
Mar 19, 2018
The ROTAVAC® story The ROTAVAC® story began more than three decades ago in India, when researchers discovered an unusual strain of rotavirus that infected newborns without making them sick. Research teams working under the bilateral Indo-US Vaccine
Blog
Feb 01, 2018
The emergency The Rohingyas are a predominantly Muslim ethnic group who, for centuries, resided in the Buddhist-dominant Rakhine State of Myanmar. However, they are not considered by Myanmar as one of their 135 official ethnic groups and have been
Blog
Jan 24, 2018
Rotavirus vaccines are starting off the new year with a bang! Bharat Biotech just announced that ROTAVAC® has achieved prequalification by the World Health Organization (WHO), making it available for procurement by United Nations agencies and Gavi,
Blog
Jan 09, 2018
Nearly two years ago, I announced PATH’s first international Vaccines Against Shigella and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) Conference (more commonly known as the VASE Conference), and I blogged about our high hopes and exciting plans for the
Blog
Jan 03, 2018
You might be more used to seeing the shorthand abbreviation for ETEC, one of the leading bacterial causes of diarrhea. The 13-syllable mouthful is a lot to digest: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. I can tell you that it is a mouthful in Finnish,
Blog
Dec 20, 2017
You know what makes for a really memorable holiday?   Viral diarrhea.   This year, a few days before my family was due to arrive at my parents’ house for Thanksgiving, my mom came down with a very mild case of stomach flu. She recovered within a
Blog
Dec 01, 2017
In 2015, civil war broke out in Yemen between the government and the rebel movement, triggering a humanitarian crisis that has resulted in more than 70 per cent of the population needing immediate aid and assistance. Yemen is one of the poorest
Blog
Two boys playfully throwing punches toward the camera
Nov 22, 2017
Did you know? Diarrheal disease is one type of enteric illness—the name for any disease caused by an intestinal infection. All enteric pathogens enter the body through the mouth, usually via contaminated food, water, or hands. Diarrheal diseases
Article
Nov 15, 2017
We need your help to make a stink about diarrheal disease and the solutions to defeat it: Create and share a Toilet Talk! It's like a one-minute TED Talk in a bathroom, and you can share it on social media using the hashtag #DefeatDD. Check our our
Video
Nov 09, 2017
Childhood diarrhea deaths have decreased, but children are still getting sick and infections are a major problem. Children who survive an episode but are faced with repeated infections are more likely to suffer from lifelong cognitive and physical
Reports
Oct 31, 2017
Photo: Palwasha Anwari   Diarrheal disease has haunted Afghanistan for far too long. In 2015, a Demographic and Health Survey from Afghanistan found that, in the two weeks before the survey, nearly three in ten children under five had suffered
Blog
Oct 09, 2017
Nicole Maier, clinical trial coordinator for PATH’s enteric vaccine portfolio, said she got choked up while watching our latest video for the first time. Why? I sat down with her to hear more about her personal take on the video.     Talk to
Blog
Oct 09, 2017
Rotavirus vaccines are saving lives and reducing hospital costs, showing us what's possible. Now PATH, icddr,b, and other partners have set their sights on vaccines against other leading diarrheal pathogens like ETEC and Shigella.
Video
Oct 04, 2017
As many of you know, here at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, we are passionate about child health.  We have been encouraged by progress that has been achieved in recent decades: since 1990, the percentage of children who die before age five
Blog
Oct 03, 2017
By implementing this multisectoral strategy, the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) partners will support countries to reduce cholera deaths by 90 percent by 2030.  The Global Roadmap is based on three strategic axes: Early detection and
Reports
Sep 26, 2017
Results from a Phase 3 efficacy study in India of the Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd.’s rotavirus vaccine BRV-PV (known as ROTASIIL®) were published in the journal Vaccine. The study showed the vaccine to be safe, well tolerated, and to provide
Published research
Sep 26, 2017
As results from a Phase 3 efficacy study in India of the Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. (SIIPL)’s rotavirus vaccine BRV-PV (now known as ROTASIIL) are published in the journal Vaccine, I find myself reflecting on the great partnership that
Blog
Aug 29, 2017
Vaccines protect individuals by working with the body's immune system. If enough people get vaccinated, a community receives herd immunity, which is protection for the larger group against disease.
Video
Jun 23, 2017
PATH developed these messages for use by anyone interested in communicating the impact of diarrhea on the health and development of children and families around the world. This is also a guide to communicating the value of rotavirus vaccines within
Message maps
Jun 14, 2017
In the lead-up to Bangladesh’s introduction of rotavirus vaccines, a recently published cost-effectiveness analysis helps bolster the evidence base for decision-makers.   Bangladesh has long played a leading role in building the evidence base for
Blog
May 10, 2017
Rotavirus still kills over 200,000 children each year, but even non-fatal cases can have a dramatic impact on families due to the economic burden of treating the disease. Parents like Jacqueline, a mother from Malawi, often lose substantial amounts
Video
May 10, 2017
This week, I am in the beautiful Balkan country of Montenegro as part of a PATH workshop with immunization decision-makers from across Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The workshop aims to equip these leaders with new cost-effectiveness analysis
Blog
May 03, 2017
Back in 2000, when the Indian newspaper the Hindustan Times launched its Bhopal edition and I joined the team, I quickly learned about the importance of ‘local’ editions and the challenge of hunting out stories that would resonate with readers in
Blog
May 01, 2017
The US Government's Call to Action for Child Survival, launched in 2012, initiated an annual Acting on the Call report that documented the US government contributions to child health around the world. The 2017 report outlines what is possible if we
Reports
Apr 23, 2017
Vaccines against rotavirus, the leading cause of severe diarrhea in children, are dramatically reducing diarrhea hospitalizations in countries where they’ve been introduced. Image: PATH.   Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective, lifesaving
Blog
Mar 29, 2017
Last week, the New England Journal of Medicine published some encouraging new results from a rotavirus vaccine study in Niger. The new vaccine was found to be safe and effective in preventing severe rotavirus diarrhea while being transported and
Blog
Feb 23, 2017
NOTE: This webpage is the new home of many resources previously listed on PATH’s Rotavirus Vaccine Access and Delivery website (www.rotavirus.org) which redirects to this page.   Rotavirus maps Maps: Rotavirus Deaths (ROTA Council) National and
Article
Jan 19, 2017
Last week, Punjab province in Pakistan introduced rotavirus vaccine into its routine childhood immunization program. This is such a major step forward for our global goal of reducing rotavirus mortality and burden!   Over 40 percent of rotavirus
Blog
Jan 12, 2017
Just prior to starting at PATH, Fred went kayak camping for several days on the New River (one of the nation’s oldest rivers, which flows north), starting in western North Carolina and ending up in Virginia.   I’ll admit that I was predisposed to
Blog
Jan 04, 2017
Five years ago, when I started working for PATH, I was just married. I was exhilarated to be part of a globally renowned, knowledgeable rotavirus vaccine clinical operations team. Long before I experienced bringing up my daughters, I was working
Blog
Jan 01, 2017
Rotavirus vaccines are saving lives and improving health in countries where they have been introduced as part of the routine childhood immunization program. We spoke with scientists, advocates, and leaders in three countries—Nicaragua, Ghana, and
Video
Dec 19, 2016
This post originally appeared on Vaccineswork.org.    This year’s US election was unforgettable for many reasons. It was particularly memorable for me because, as the final results were coming in and most Americans were asleep, I was sitting in
Blog
Dec 12, 2016
For non-technical viewers, data often lacks accessibility. But when data is broken down and refined through visualization, it can become a compelling storyteller and tool in evidence-based decision-making.   DefeatDD recently launched a data
Blog
Dec 07, 2016
"The sun never sets on the Enterobax Empire." Illustration by Ishir Sharma, age 13.    It was quite a productive week for me at last month's ASTMH Annual Meeting. I met several interesting researchers, attended symposia about the promise of ETEC
Blog
Nov 01, 2016
In this report, IVAC identifies the 15 countries with the greatest number of deaths from pneumonia and diarrhea among children under the age of five in a given year. IVAC then uses a scoring method based on the Global Action Plan for the Prevention
Reports
#poohaiku
Oct 01, 2016
  Poo Haiku has a special legacy as DefeatDD’s first social media campaign and is undoubtedly a fan favorite. Whimsical, informative, and an open forum for all sectors to raise their voice, it is the epitome of what our team considers a successful
Article
Why is Diarrhea Dangerous Screenshot
Oct 01, 2016
This infographic walks you through the biology behind a key question: Why is diarrhea so dangerous, anyway? The danger is in the dehydration caused by a diarrhea pathogen (in our example, ETEC). Children are especially vulnerable to dehydration
Graphics
Sep 29, 2016
Our team interviewed Deborah Atherly to learn more about health economics and vaccines!
Video
Sep 28, 2016
In a new study using more than 10,000 samples in high-burden countries around the world, scientists closely analyzed the occurrence of more than 40 diarrhea-causing pathogens. They ultimately identified a small but deadly coalition: Together, only
Published research
Sep 28, 2016
In our latest video, our intervention superheroes win a village battle against four of the six top diarrhea pathogens. Together.   It's a word you hear from us fairly often: Together, our voices raise the volume of a global conversation to defeat
Blog
Sep 28, 2016
ETEC and Shigella are the leading bacterial causes of diarrheal disease. Scientists are working hard to develop vaccines against these deadly pathogens so they can soon become available to the children who need them most.
Video
Sep 20, 2016
In the final battle against polio, India was often clubbed with Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.  At the 12th International Rotavirus Symposium, it struck me that India is now clubbed with Nigeria, Pakistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Blog
Sep 16, 2016
Superheroes and villains face off in the battle to DefeatDD! With their powers combined, Nutrition, Vaccines, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), and ORS + Zinc help children, families, and communities conquer the biggest bugs terrorizing towns
Video
Sep 14, 2016
As many of us wrap up our summer vacations and head back to work and school, the usual conversations center around what everyone did over the summer. Much like in the US, summer in my country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), includes all
Blog
Sep 06, 2016
Rotavirus is one of the diarrhea villains in our animated superhero epic, and if we were to follow in the footsteps of other action movie franchises to produce a prequel, Ruth Bishop would be our star.   A steadfast scientist with a deep desire
Blog
Aug 29, 2016
Say sayonara to Star Trek because this summer's biggest blockbuster isn't playing at your local theater. The most compelling drama comes to you right here, as superheroes and villains face off in the fight to defeat diarrheal disease!   That sight
Blog
Aug 23, 2016
Richard Heinzl (center) went to Sisophon, Cambodia, on his first mission with MSF in 1991.    Editor's Note: The contents of this blog, unfortunately, remain relevant as conflict continues to occur in many regions of the world. Although the
Blog
Aug 01, 2016
Each year, more than half a million children die from severe, dehydrating diarrhea. The most common cause of severe infantile diarrhea—accounting for approximately one-third of these deaths and millions of hospitalizations—is rotavirus. More than 90
Factsheets
Jul 26, 2016
Shigella, a deadly bacterial infection that causes diarrhea, may not be a household name, but it quickly became one for the Maier family when Jackie (bottom right in the above photo) became severely ill at nine years old, right around the time this
Blog
Jun 08, 2016
His Excellency Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, President of the Republic of Mali, at the Opening Ceremony of the 10th African Rotavirus Symposium. Photo credit: Mama Traoré and Kamory Diallo. Living and working in Mali, I have seen many family members,
Blog
May 09, 2016
A scientist has a mandate: objective, data-driven fact-finding; research with an open mind and a solid protocol. But a scientist is more, too. Behind the standards of practice and quality control checks are life experiences, a full range of emotions
Blog
May 09, 2016
Childhood diarrhea is far too common in developing countries. When children do survive, families often face repeated illnesses and a heavy financial burden.
Video
May 05, 2016
Since their introduction over the past several years, rotavirus vaccines have been saving lives from the leading cause of severe childhood diarrhea. In April 2016, the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases published new data from several countries
Video
Apr 24, 2016
This post is part of the #ProtectingKids story roundup. Read all the stories here.       In 1982, I remember how a mother with two children with measles helped save many others.      Sadly, she lost one of the ailing children to a
Blog
Apr 15, 2016
RotaFlash, April 2016Data from a new journal supplement reveal the widespread impact of rotavirus vaccines in preventing death and disease from rotavirus diarrhea in low-income countries around the world, while also highlighting the need for
Latest news
Apr 12, 2016
Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease that can lead to rapid dehydration and death if not immediately and correctly treated. While the global burden of cholera is not precisely known, estimates show that there are more than 2 million cases per year
Blog
Mar 28, 2016
On March 26, 2016, India joined the growing number of countries that have introduced rotavirus vaccine into their national immunization programs. The Indian Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Mr. JP Nadda, launched the rotavirus vaccine through
Blog
Mar 15, 2016
An infant being immunized at a child welfare clinic at the Elmina Urban Health Center in the Central Region of Ghana. Photo by: UNICEF. This post originally appeared on Devex. This month, hundreds of thousands of children will get access to
Blog
Feb 24, 2016
Vaccines against diarrheal disease still have an enormous amount of untapped potential for Africa—for children’s lives, their ability to flourish, their families’ livelihoods, and their countries’ economies. The Ministerial Conference on
Blog
Feb 17, 2016
Let's face it, after more than eight years leading PATH's work on developing vaccines against Shigella and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and more than three decades of working on enteric diseases, you might assume that I've heard it all
Blog
Jan 05, 2016
Case-control studies are often performed to estimate postlicensure vaccine effectiveness (VE), but the enrollment of controls can be challenging, time-consuming, and costly. The authors of this study evaluated whether children enrolled in the same
Published research
Jan 01, 2016
This document provides answers to frequently asked questions about rotavirus disease and vaccines and is designed to provide a better understanding of the characteristics, burden, and epidemiology of rotavirus disease; an overview of rotavirus
Factsheets
Jan 01, 2016
Swift and significant declines in hospitalization and deaths due to rotavirus and all-cause diarrhea have been observed in many of the countries that have introduced rotavirus vaccines into their national immunization programs. Researchers also have
Published research
Jan 01, 2016
The ROTA Council white paper Rotavirus: Common, Severe, Devastating, Preventable is the most comprehensive and up-to-date source of information on rotavirus disease and vaccines. The 50-page synthesis includes the latest evidence and programmatic
Reports
Dec 21, 2015
EurekAlert!, December 2015New research by the University of Virginia and icddr,b suggests that food alone is not a solution to malnutrition: new approaches must target gut damage due to infectious disease.Read the full article 
Latest news
Dec 07, 2015
Project Syndicate, December 2015A new report from the International Vaccine Access Center shows that nearly three-quarters of the deaths from pneumonia and diarrhea occur in just 15 countries and in the poorest communities. While we've made progress
Latest news
Nov 12, 2015
Together, pneumonia and diarrhea kill more children under the age of five each year than any other infectious disease. Luckily, a number of prevention and treatment solutions (like vaccine delivery systems, handwashing/sanitation, antibiotics, and
Blog
Nov 10, 2015
Health workers transport pneumonia and rotavirus vaccines across Tanzania. Photo credit: PATH/Doune Porter.   Two years ago, Dr. Namala Mkopi, pediatrician and Shot@Life Global Immunization Fellow, celebrated Tanzania's dual introduction of
Blog
Oct 21, 2015
Outbreak and emergency situations often raise the specter of cholera and the very real danger it poses. But many communities throughout the world also face the silent, but no less deadly, burden of endemic cholera. Earlier this year, results from a
Blog
Oct 12, 2015
Official movie poster (copyright 20th Century Fox), with a few creative tweaks by Laura Edison.   With the recent NASA discovery of water on Mars, combined with the release of my new favorite movie, The Martian, Mars has been on my mind a lot
Blog
Sep 23, 2015
Every family across the world wants the best for their children.  But everyday dangers in their environment make diarrhea a common and serious threat: more than half a million children die from diarrhea each year, and millions more are hospitalized
Video
Sep 22, 2015
“The results communicate a clear message: We can choose a better future for the world's children.”   I love that sentence from UNICEF's most recent A Promise Renewed progress report. The fact that we have a choice makes two essential points: (1)
Blog
Sep 15, 2015
On 13 February 2014 in Guinea, a woman holds her son in a sling on her back as he is vaccinated against measles in Conakry, the capital. The immunization was administered as part of a massive emergency vaccination campaign against the disease. The
Blog
Sep 02, 2015
Soumya fulfills a lifelong dream to travel to Hollywood. Here, he takes on Uma Thurman in a sword fight at Madame Tussauds. As a member of the operational team of the bovine-human reassortant rotavirus vaccine (BRV) project, I am responsible for
Blog
Sep 01, 2015
In June 2012, the Governments of Ethiopia, India and the United States of America convened the Child Survival Call to Action in Washington, D.C. This high-level forum brought together over 700 representatives from government, civil society and the
Reports
Aug 27, 2015
USAID, August 2015The 2015 Acting on the Call: ending preventable child and maternal deaths report reveals that USAID's maternal and child survival efforts have resulted in nearly 2.5 million more children surviving and 200,000 maternal deaths
Latest news
Jul 09, 2015
BBC News, July 2015 A new study by ICDDR,B published in The Lancet is the first to prove the effectiveness and feasibility of an oral cholera vaccine in real-life settings in Bangladesh. Importantly, the integration of other diarrhea interventions
Latest news
Jun 18, 2015
Update: This story has a happy ending. On Tuesday, June 23rd, the author did go back, and her son got his last dose of the rotavirus vaccine. Today is my son's six-month birthday, and my husband and I took him in for his six-month pediatric
Blog
Jun 10, 2015
Forbes, June 2015"Within six years of the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine, hospitalizations for the diarrheal illness had dropped by 94% and hospitalizations for the overall gastrointestinal illnesses were cut in half. Those are the findings
Latest news
Jun 09, 2015
This is a step-by-step guide for those who are working to improve immunisation systems and access to vaccines, particularly in resource-poor settings. It aims to help you to find ideas, resources and guidance to advocate for strengthened commitment
Toolkits
May 12, 2015
RotaFlash, May 2015New country-led research published in a new supplement of the journal Vaccine demonstrates the cost-effectiveness and public health impact of rotavirus vaccines.Read the full article here
Latest news
May 11, 2015
Countries around the world are rolling out rotavirus vaccines in record time – the fastest scale up of a child vaccine ever. Children who are vaccinated are 50-94% less likely to be hospitalized for severe rotavirus diarrhea, but the vaccines aren’t
Video
May 01, 2015
World Economic Forum, May 2015 "For fast-growing countries like India and Bangladesh, tackling rotavirus -- which cheats children and the nation of productivity, well-being and development -- should be a priority." Read the full article 
Latest news
Apr 24, 2015
This post is part of the #ProtectingKids blog series. Read the whole series here. Note: This blog was originally posted on Gavi's VaccinesWork.org. PATH child health expert Dr. Huong played a key role in helping Vietnam update its national
Blog
Apr 24, 2015
This post is part of the #ProtectingKids blog series. Read the whole series here. Dhaka was people. Everywhere I looked: people. Crowded streets, makeshift markets, farmers, businessmen, families, and animals. More than 15 million people live in
Blog
Apr 16, 2015
Me in December 1991, just a few weeks before getting sick. This post is part of the #ProtectingKids blog series. Read the whole series here. There was once a healthy little girl who, just a few months before her second birthday, started to feel
Blog
Apr 07, 2015
To ensure a vaccine is safe and effective, it must be carefully studied in the laboratory and go through several rigorous phases of clinical trials. If safety is not assured at any point, the vaccine candidate simply does not advance. Photo: PATH/
Blog
Mar 10, 2015
Business Standard, March 2015On March 9, India launched the first indigenously developed vaccine against rotavirus, which was developed under an innovate-public private partnership model.Read the full article 
Latest news
Feb 09, 2015
RotaFlash, February 2015New data from Malawi, one of the first Gavi-eligible countries in Africa to introduce rotavirus vaccines, show significant reductions in rotavirus-related hospitalizations. Additionally, Tajikistan and Argentina have added
Latest news
Jan 15, 2015
Several health clinics in Indonesia implemented electronic systems to capture data, but one facility in particular far outperformed the rest in almost every indicator measured. However, this should not have been the case. This facility was more
Blog
Jan 01, 2015
Graphics
Dec 22, 2014
  With two college-going children - pardon - adults in the house - it is difficult to recall them reaching their fifth year milestone. I still recall, though, the amazement that often came from friends and family in the larger cities of India (who
Blog
Dec 19, 2014
The Washington Post, December 2014"In the category of stunning, heartening, woefully underreported good news: In 2000, an estimated 9.9 million children around the world died before age 5. In 2013, the figure was 6.3 million. That is 3.6 million
Latest news
Dec 19, 2014
Gates Notes, December 20142014 was a turbulent year, but a lot of good things happened, too. When Bill Gates reflects on the best stories of the past year, progress in child survival is a strong theme. Rotavirus vaccines also get special attention.
Latest news
Dec 03, 2014
RotaFlash, December 2014Two more African countries – Namibia and Senegal – introduced lifesaving rotavirus vaccines in November, bringing the total number of African country rotavirus introductions to 23. In both countries, rotavirus is estimated to
Latest news
Nov 12, 2014
As we mark the sixth annual World Pneumonia Day this month, you might be wondering why you should continue to care. You may have heard that pneumonia vaccines have been rolling out all over the world, even to many of the world's poorest countries.
Blog
Nov 10, 2014
RotaFlash, November 2014One year after Ethiopia’s national launch of rotavirus vaccines, the country has shown remarkable commitment to immunization through simultaneously introducing vaccines against rotavirus and Meningitis A while also containing
Latest news
Oct 10, 2014
RotaFlash, October 2014New data show that rotavirus vaccines indirectly protect household members of vaccinated infants. Data from South Africa also show that rotavirus vaccination prevents nearly 60% of rotavirus hospitalziations among vaccinated
Latest news
Oct 01, 2014
In a swampy field in Western Kenya, an energetic Alfred Ochola surveys the crowd. All eyes are on him as he rolls up his pants, wades into a muddy stream, and fills a bucket with dirty water.
Special Features
Sep 02, 2014
Our work on rotavirus vaccines has brought PATH's Vaccine Development team to India countless times over the past several years. But rather than research or prepping for clinical studies, this week's trip brings us to India for a related, yet
Blog
Aug 19, 2014
RotaFlash, August 2014Rotavirus vaccines have been introduced in Niger and Eritrea, bringing the global total to 69 countries. Niger's dual launch of rotavirus and pneumonia vaccines will mean an even greater number of lives saved.Read the full
Latest news
Aug 13, 2014
I grew up in an educated middle class Bangladeshi family in Dhaka, the capital of the country. I grew up with the idea that immunization is not important, that vaccines could have an adverse effect on vital organs of your body. Having a strong
Blog
Aug 06, 2014
RotaFlash, August 2014PATH convened a group of experts  in Washington, DC, for the “Rotavirus Vaccination & Intussusception Workshop: Science, Surveillance & Safety.” A report detailing outcomes from the workshop will provide an overview of
Latest news
Aug 01, 2014
This fact sheet provides an overview of rotavirus disease and vaccines in Africa. It includes information about the tremendous burden of rotavirus diarrhea in African children, rotavirus diarrhea treatment and prevention strategies, and the
Factsheets
Aug 01, 2014
Diarrhea is a leading killer of children across Asia, causing approximately 11 percent of deaths in children under five years of age in the World Health Organization’s Southeast Asia Region (WHO SEAR).1 Rotavirus, the most common cause of severe
Factsheets
Jun 19, 2014
  Mothers wait to vaccinate their babies at the Kpele-Eleme Health Centre in Togo.     My cousin Mada, who lives in Atakpamé, Togo (about 160 km from the capital Lomé), tragically lost her son Dissirama to severe diarrhea. After the baby fell
Blog
Jun 02, 2014
If there was a way to save half a million children's lives every year, wouldn't you join that movement?   Get looped in to the global movement to defeat diarrheal disease.
Video
May 21, 2014
  If you move in global health circles, you may have had the good fortune to meet soccer star (and ONE Campaign Global Health Policy Director) Erin Hohlfelder. In her recent blog, she reflects on how access to lifesaving immunizations gave her the
Blog
May 08, 2014
RotaFlash, May 2014To commemorate African Immunization Week (a regional subset of the WHO sponsored World Immunization Week), the Repblic of the Congo, Angola, and Madagascar rolled our rotavirus vaccines to protect children from the deadliest form
Latest news
Apr 09, 2014
The Hindu, April 2014This op-ed from a leading Indian newspaper highlights India's breakthrough development of a safe and efficacious rotavirus vaccine and its potential to sharply reduce child deaths and hospitalizations through introduction into
Latest news
Apr 03, 2014
RotaFlash, April 2014Cameroon and Sierra Leone are the 21st and 22nd GAVI-eligible countries and 15th and 16th countries in Africa to welcome rotavirus vaccines into their national immunization programs, protecting children from the deadliest form
Latest news
Mar 10, 2014
  Reposted from the PATH blog   Pneumococcal disease prevention is a key component of the integrated effort to reduce child mortality from pneumonia and diarrhea—the two leading killers of children. The global health community is hitting these
Blog
Feb 26, 2014
  Studies on the cost-effectiveness of rotavirus vaccines might sound like pretty dry pursuits. Though I find science fascinating, nothing makes my eyes glaze faster than talk of monetization and math. But when I learned about the paths that
Blog
Feb 24, 2014
BioSpectrum, February 2014Diarrhea kills 100,000 children in India each year. Simple measures and an integrated approach could change this.Read the full article
Latest news
Feb 19, 2014
  What appealed to you about joining PATH? I was a research scientist conducting large scale clinical trials mostly on vaccines. However, after the trial results were declared there was nothing more I could do in terms of advocacy, preparedness
Blog
Feb 04, 2014
Huffington Post, February 2014Micronutrient Initiative's Marion Roche describes why rotavirus vaccine is an essential tool for tackling diarrheal disease through the lens of families in Guatemala.Read the full article
Latest news
Jan 29, 2014
  Last year, I had somewhere in the ballpark of fifteen colds (and that's a conservative estimate). Just to plan ahead, I'm penciling into my 2014 calendar several colds over the next few months. You see, my son is in daycare. Need I say more?  
Blog
Jan 24, 2014
RotaFlash, January 2014Special supplement to the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal describes the critical role of monitoring disease burden and vaccine impact in Africa and worldwide.Read the full article
Latest news
Jan 21, 2014
RotaFlash, January 2014There was a jubilant celebration in Mali to welcome the introduction of rotavirus vaccines to protect the nation's children. Dr. Kathy Neuzil, Director of PATH's Vaccine Access and Delivery Program, reflects on the clumination
Latest news
Jan 08, 2014
  Vaccination is a public health heavyweight—and essential in any successful strategy to knock out deadly childhood diseases. Today we present some of the prize-fighters in that effort: our very own Vaccine Development colleagues.   When the team
Blog
Jan 02, 2014
  Insufficient supply and high prices are major factors that can delay the availability of lifesaving vaccines in low-income countries—sometimes for decades following their adoption by wealthy countries. Shortening these timelines and improving
Blog
Jan 01, 2014
To view this PDF in full, click here.
Graphics
Jan 01, 2014
  To view a full list of countries that have introduced rotavirus vaccines, click here. To download the map of countries that have introduced rotavirus vaccines, click here.
Graphics
Dec 16, 2013
  Hazel loved the taste of her rotavirus vaccine     As a founding member of the Poo Crew, I've always been pretty confident that I know my sh-t. For eight years now, I've been helping to craft messages about the threat of diarrheal disease, and
Blog
Dec 16, 2013
RotaFliash, December 2013Coinciding with the start of its second annual Mother-Child Health Week, Burundi became the 19th GAVI-eligible country and 13th country in Africa to introduce rotavirus vaccines into its national immunization program.Read
Latest news
Dec 12, 2013
  Dr. Lou Bourgeois, scientific officer for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) at PATH's Enteric Vaccine Initiative, recently attended the biennial Vaccines for Enteric Diseases (VED) conference (held November 6-8, 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand).
Blog
Dec 04, 2013
  As Co-Chair of the All Party Group for Child Health and Vaccine Preventable Diseases, I have been extremely fortunate to visit a number public health programmes in the developing world. With each visit I have been privileged to meet with some of
Blog
Dec 02, 2013
RotaFlash, December 2013In late November, Zambia expanded a pilot project that originated in Lusaka district, bringing rotavirus vaccines to children nationwide as part of an integrated program to prevent and treat childhood diarrhea.Click here to
Latest news
Nov 26, 2013
  While Zambia launched the rotavirus vaccine nationally today, the vaccine has been in public health clinics across Lusaka Province—the most populated province and home of the nation's capital—for over a year and a half. The Government was keen to
Blog
Nov 12, 2013
Global Coalition Against Child Pneumonia, November 2013The Global Coalition Against Child Pneumonia calls for continued investment in innovations, proven tools, and an integrated approach to simultaneously tackle diarrhea, as outlined in the Global
Latest news
Nov 08, 2013
RotaFlash, November 2013Ethiopia has become the 11th African country to introduce vaccines against rotavirus. As Africa's second most populous country and one of five countries with the highest rotavirus burden worldwide, the vaccines stand to make
Latest news
Nov 07, 2013
I took my son to the doctor recently. In one office, during one visit, he had a physical check-up, vision and hearing exams, and he received counseling on nutrition, and several vaccines. While to many parents around this world, this is unremarkable
Blog
Oct 10, 2013
  There's a story that haunts me in child health.  It's the story of the child who successfully fights an episode of malaria one year because she got the right medicine at the right time but the following year, after a severe episode of pneumonia,
Blog
Sep 17, 2013
  Quest-driven, yet reticent, Vidya Sagar Uprety, Senior Program Officer, (Clinical Trials) of a rotavirus Phase III efficacy study, was always the school topper. From the calm and peaceful environs of the hill state of Uttarakhand, to the hustle
Blog
Sep 13, 2013
UNICEF, September 2013UNICEF has released the second report in the A Promise Renewed series, which tracks global progress on preventing child mortality. Some of the poorest countries have made the most progress, but there is still more to be done if
Latest news
Sep 11, 2013
  One of the job perks at PATH is working with lots of smart people all relentlessly tackling a health and scientific challenge. Our vaccine development program is one such team of scientists, doctors, and other experts focused on accelerating
Blog
Sep 05, 2013
  Recently, my husband and I did a rare thing and attended a major league baseball game. We made ourselves comfortable in the outfield bleachers just fair of the foul pole, ready for a few lazy hours in the sun rooting on the Seattle Mariners. 
Blog
Aug 28, 2013
Reuters Health, August 2013In an illustration of "herd immunity" at work, a new study shows that fewer older children and adults were hospitalized for severe diarrhea once the U.S. started vaccinating babies against rotavirus in 2006.Read the full
Latest news
Aug 16, 2013
RotaFlash, August 2013The Gambia's introduction of rotavirus vaccines stands to make a significant impact. Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS), the first comprehensive global study of childhood diarrheal disease, found that rotavirus is the most
Latest news
Aug 07, 2013
  For the affable Dr. Tushar Tewari, PATH Team Leader of a rotavirus vaccine project, Eastern and Southern India have been his home as a medical student.  As a professional it has been Western and Northern India, thus, literally covering the
Blog
Jul 31, 2013
Originally posted on Impatient Optimists. Over the course of my career I've spent over thirty years working in various developing countries trying to better understand and fight infectious diseases. One of the things that alarmed me most was that
Blog
Jul 24, 2013
  You are a new parent. Your infant daughter is nine weeks old today. She has just begun to coo, and she smiles in recognition when you greet her each morning.   Your little one is a healthy eater, hungry and eager. The antibodies in her mother's
Blog
Jun 26, 2013
  Few initiatives in public health have changed the lives of children and families around the world as much as immunization programs. These simple interventions prevented as many as 3 million deaths in 2011 alone.  And the successes continue.  Each
Blog
Jun 20, 2013
RotaFlash, June 2013A new study published in the British Medical Journal provides the first post-licensure data on the real-world effectiveness of Rotarix® (a rotavirus vaccine) in a GAVI-eligible country. Bolivia was the first high-mortality
Latest news
Jun 14, 2013
RotaFlash, June 2013Three recent scientific studies from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention demonstrate the powerful and real-world effectiveness of rotavirus vaccination in the US, the benefits of which extend beyond the health of
Latest news
May 29, 2013
  There are a number of seemingly insurmountable development challenges, but child survival — particularly combating diarrheal diseases — is not one of them.   The Global Enteric Multicenter Study (GEMS), published in The Lancet last week,
Blog
May 22, 2013
Scandinavian Biopharma, May 2013Results from a clinical Phase I study of a novel vaccine against diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) found the vaccine was safe and well tolerated. ETEC is a common culprit of travelers'
Latest news
May 15, 2013
Times of India, May 2013A pivotal clinical study of India's first indigenous rotavirus vaccine found it to be safe and efficacious against severe rotavirus. A public-private partnership worked to develop the vaccine, which will provide an affordable
Latest news
May 14, 2013
RotaFlash, May 2013 A Phase III trial of a new rotavirus vaccine candidate from India demonstrates safety and efficacy. Additionally, a new study shows that rotavirus is the #1 cause of moderate-to-severe diarrhea in children less than two years
Latest news
May 10, 2013
  Sometimes history is made at the ballot box, sometimes on a battlefield. Today it was made in a hotel ballroom. That is where I was able to witness an historic breakthrough as the Indian Government and Bharat Biotech announced positive results
Blog
May 09, 2013
  One year ago this month, the plans were well underway - plenty of ideas, not too many specifics, and uncontainable excitement: The defeatDD team was heading to Zambia!   I had actually been once already, before joining PATH. Nine years prior,
Blog
May 02, 2013
The Government of India’s Department of Biotechnology and Bharat Biotech announced positive results from a Phase 3 clinical trial of a rotavirus vaccine developed and manufactured in India. Data from the trial, presented at the May 2013
Published research
Apr 30, 2013
Rotaflash, April 2013Following an announcement on April 27, Haiti will become the fifth and final GAVI-eligible country in the Americas region to introduce rotavirus vaccination, with support from the GAVI Alliance. Vaccines offer great promise to
Latest news
Apr 26, 2013
  Dr. Mark Alderson is the director of the pneumococcal vaccine project at PATH. Since 2006, his team has been advancing the development of vaccines tailor-made to protect the world's poorest children from pneumonia—a disease that, together with
Blog
Apr 24, 2013
We can prevent 95% of deaths from diarrhea and 65% of deaths from pneumonia by scaling up cost-effective interventions. How cool is that? That was the bottom line from US AID's briefing about the Integrated Global Action Plan for the Prevention and
Blog
Apr 17, 2013
Zambia is leading the charge to defeat diarrhea. The country serves as a model for the successful integration of policies, education, safe drinking water, rotavirus vaccines, and ORS/zinc.   Video: PATH; Photos: PATH/Gareth Bentley.
Video
Apr 11, 2013
This week, we celebrate integration. Though it is intrinsically at the heart of what we and our partners do in addressing myriad global health challenges through thoughtful, efficient strategies, today integration is particularly at the fore. For
Blog
Apr 10, 2013
Share these photos on Facebook and Twitter to help spread the word about the GAPPD: the first global plan to simultaneously tackle pneumonia and diarrhoea, two leading child killers.    Suggested Facebook status: With a global plan to tackle
Graphics
Apr 05, 2013
Dr. George Armah, Senior Research Fellow and Associate Professor, University of Ghana Dr. Roma Chilengi, Country Lead, Absolute Return for Kids, Zambia Dr. Chris Elemuwa, National Pneumonia Focal Point, National Primary Health Care Development
Other
Apr 05, 2013
Dr. Shams El Arifeen, Director, The Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, at ICDDR,B (icddr,b) Dr. Lulu Bravo, Professor of Paediatric Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of the
Other
Apr 05, 2013
This advocacy toolkit is designed to assist civil society organisations (CSOs), nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), and other advocacy groups or individuals to advocate for the successful implementation of the recommendations of the Integrated
Toolkits
Apr 05, 2013
Dr. Koki Agarwal, Director, Maternal & Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP) Dr. Greg Allgood, Director and Founder, Proctor & Gamble Children’s Safe Drinking Water Programme Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of the GAVI Alliance Dr. Thomas Brewer
Other
Apr 05, 2013
Leaders of global and national NGOs, scientists, pediatricians, academics, and policymakers have issued statements to support the implementation of the GAPPD framework. To read through leader statements categorized by region, click the links below
Other
Apr 05, 2013
Diverse Array of NGOs and CSOs Call on Governments and Partners to Make Global Action Plan a Reality Statement of Support for the Integrated Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea   Click here to view the
Other
Apr 05, 2013
EMBARGOED for Release:                                                           01:01 Geneva local time                                                               00:01 London local time Friday, April 12, 2013
Other
Apr 05, 2013
Full report: Integrated Global Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD) (PDF, 763 KB) Authors: UNICEF and WHO Published: April 2013   GAPPD report resources: Executive summary: in English and French Summary:
Reports
Mar 25, 2013
  This past Friday was World Water Day and an opportunity to celebrate the excellent work being doing to promote water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in the developing world. The UK has played a leading role in making WASH a priority for
Blog
Mar 13, 2013
  Reposted from makingmalariahistory.org.   Last week, the Washington Global Health Alliance held its “Experience Global Health” exhibit on Capitol Hill. The unique, multi-sensory event presented stories of global health struggles (like malaria
Blog
Mar 07, 2013
  The brilliant scientists of PATH's Enteric Vaccine Initiative (EVI) conduct clinical trials for vaccine candidates against bacterial forms of diarrheal disease. Next month, they will launch a trial for a Shigella vaccine in Bangladesh.   EVI
Blog
Mar 06, 2013
RotaFlash, March 2013Mexico’s Ministry of Health and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have just released data that shows signficant reduction in rates of diarrheal disease across all regions of Mexico after the introduction of the
Latest news
Feb 04, 2013
RotaFlash, February 2012The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a new rotavirus vaccine position paper that reaffirms its global recommendation and clarifies the relaxation of age restrictions.Read the full article
Latest news
Jan 29, 2013
The Medical News, January 2013A new study found that the prevalence of rotavirus in US adults declined by almost 50% during the peak seasons in 2008-2010, suggesting that routine rotavirus vaccination among children is indirectly protecting
Latest news
Jan 16, 2013
RotaFlash, January 2013In an effort to address inequitable access to new vaccines, UNICEF has announced a tender to establish affordable and sustainable supplies of rotavirus, pneumococcal conjugate, and human papillomavirus vaccines for middle
Latest news
Jan 08, 2013
Forbes, January 2013In a recent in-depth interview conducted by the Skoll World Forum‘s Rahim Kanani, Executive Director of UNICEF Anthony Lake discussed the urgent need to create a commodities market of life-saving medicines in the developing world
Latest news
Jan 01, 2013
This presentation gives a concise overview of the problem of diarrheal disease, the solutions and the ways to take action on this issue. Use the full presentation, or pull content from the slides to incorporate them into your own presentations. This
Presentations
Dec 20, 2012
A community meeting to receive health messages from a CHW. Community-level perception of a public health intervention is tantamount to the success or failure of its uptake. Programs generated in the West can often be perceived as irrelevant,
Blog
Dec 13, 2012
  Over the past few weeks excitement has been building for the upcoming GAVI Partners Forum that took place in Tanzania. This is the 5th GAVI Partners Forum, a meeting that brings together a range of stakeholders including implementing country
Blog
Dec 07, 2012
RotaFlash, December 2012On December 6, Tanzania simultaneously launched vaccines against the primary causes of two of the leading childhood killers in Tanzania and worldwide – pneumonia and diarrhea. The launch took place in tandem with the GAVI
Latest news
Dec 05, 2012
A mother cares for her baby, suffering from severe diarrhea, at the gastroenteritis ward in Dar-es-Salaam's Muhimbili hospital. As a pediatrician in Tanzania, my days are spent making individual children healthy and working to save their lives. But
Blog
Dec 04, 2012
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh: A global leader In 1971, a cholera outbreak ravaged camps of refugees from the Bangladesh Liberation War. Supplies for intravenous rehydration, upon which physicians had relied for
Other
Nov 29, 2012
  As I was writing my new book, my granddaughter of 6 asked me what I was up to. I am writing my book, I said. What is it on? She asked. On what grandpa thinks is most important. Do you know what grandpa thinks is most important? That the children
Blog
Nov 12, 2012
  On a recent visit to a local children's ward in the northern part of Ethiopia over 70% of the children were suffering from pneumonia.  When a child in this region goes to the hospital, most often the parents move in as well, sleeping in the same
Blog
Nov 05, 2012
AllAfrica.com, November 2012A group of dedicated partners has completed a pilot rollout of rotavirus vaccines throughout Zambia's Lusaka Province. The vaccine is provided in an integrated clinical package that also encourages use of ORS and zinc for
Latest news
Oct 29, 2012
  Malawi was a groundbreaker: The first developing country where research definitively proved that rotavirus vaccines will save lives in the world's most challenging settings. A study in Malawi and South Africa garnered the first figures on
Blog
Oct 24, 2012
PATH RotaFlash, October 2012Existing age restrictions prevent rotavirus vaccination of many children who are most vulnerable, particularly in poor settings where children often present late for routine immunizations. According to the World Health
Latest news
Sep 24, 2012
Sabin Vaccine Institute, September 2012The world's greatest minds focused on defeating rotavirus gathered in Bangkok to share experiences, data, and motivation at overcoming the leading cause of severe childhood diarrhea.Read the full article
Latest news
Sep 19, 2012
  It all seemed that it would be easy back in 2006. The New England Journal of Medicine published landmark articles reporting the safety and efficacy of two new rotavirus vaccines in January of that year. And within weeks the US announced that it
Blog
Sep 13, 2012
UNICEF, September 2012Data released by UNICEF show that the number of children under the age of 5 dying globally has dropped from nearly 12 million in 1990 to an estimated 6.9 million in 2011. Though the progress is remarkable and worth celebrating
Latest news
Aug 22, 2012
  As doctors and researchers, we have spent our lives treating sick children and consoling families rocked by illnesses and deaths that could have been prevented. Too many times, we have lost patients to preventable causes like diarrhea.   But
Blog
Jul 13, 2012
  Ten years of development work, and this week marked my first visit to an African health care clinic. The waiting room was tiny, tight, and filled with weary anxiety. The bottom line being that, despite my own excitement, the women and children in
Blog
Jul 12, 2012
  I don't think any of us expected to be deeply moved during an informational interview at Zambia's Ministry of Health, a stop typically made to gather facts and figures rather than inspiration. In a crowded room with thick binders filling an
Blog
Jul 05, 2012
  Infectious disease isn't the only thing that can go viral these days. Facebook posts and tweets can, too, which makes social media pretty powerful stuff.   At defeatDD, we spend a lot of time thinking about how we can harness the potential of
Blog
Jul 03, 2012
Countdown to 2015, June 2012The 2012 Countdown to 2015 Report, Building a Future for Women and Children, highlights country progress—and obstacles to progress—towards achieving Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 to reduce child mortality and
Latest news
Jun 28, 2012
  Five years ago, when Mitesh Gupta was born in Badohi (Uttar Pradesh), his mother Malti says, he was just fine. Five months down, the boy began to have severe episodes of diarrhea. Seeing no respite in the boy's condition, she opted to bring him
Blog
Jun 20, 2012
  “Oh, Stephanie, NO. Not while we're eating our dinner!”   This is how the conversation usually goes when my parents make the mistake of asking me how my job is going over a family meal. I have become so used to discussing this subject, I forget
Blog
Jun 14, 2012
  As health leaders from around the globe gather for the Child Survival Call to Action, it is heartening to see India take a leadership role as co-convener of the Summit. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister of Health and Family Welfare for India, will help
Blog
Jun 12, 2012
  The Great, the Good and the Glamorous are gathering in Washington DC this week to talk about some really big issues affecting the world's poorest and most vulnerable children and adults.   Anyone who is anyone in Global Health and Development
Blog
Jun 08, 2012
UNICEF, June 2012A new report from UNICEF focuses on the huge potential to narrow the child survival gap between the richest and the poorest by focusing on pneumonia and diarrhoea – the two primary killers of children under the age of five. The new
Latest news
Jun 07, 2012
Dick Walker with children in Cambodia. Promising vaccine technologies can help expand and improve the arsenal of tools to use in the fight against diarrhea among children. The leading bacterial causes of diarrhea are enterotoxigenic Escherichia
Blog
May 30, 2012
Decade of Vaccines Collaboration, May 2012The Sixty-fifth World Health Assembly endorsed a landmark Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP), a roadmap to prevent millions of deaths by 2020 through more equitable access to existing vaccines for people in
Latest news
May 16, 2012
  I didn't notice Savita Rai at first. I was too busy watching the mothers' group. I was in her Indian village to see how PATH's Sure Start project was transforming a devastating situation—high rates of maternal and newborn deaths—into one of hope
Blog
May 11, 2012
PATH welcomes the encouraging news published in the Lancet today that global child deaths continue to decrease, while also recognizing that the fight is far from over. Childhood diarrhea and pneumonia claim a combined 2 million lives annually and
Latest news
May 02, 2012
At USAID's "Every Child Deserves a 5th Birthday" briefing, USAID Administrator Raj Shah proudly displays a photo of one of his little ones, who had just graduated from her play group. I've always had a soft spot for revolutionary people and ideas,
Blog
Apr 24, 2012
You probably already know the shocking reality—more than 1,200 children under age five die from rotavirus each day—that's more that 450,000 each year! What you might not know is that many of these deaths can be prevented by using rotavirus vaccines
Blog
Apr 09, 2012
How can we stop millions of deaths from diarrhea? With simple solutions. Just listen...
Video
Mar 14, 2012
Summer 2006, rural China: My colleagues and I take a bathroom break at a rest stop on the side of the road on our way to a health clinic. Unlike many female restrooms around the world, there isn't a long line of patrons waiting to use the holes in
Blog
Mar 02, 2012
Do you remember how your mom took care of you when you got sick? Moms everywhere want to take care of their kids. Diarrhea can be deadly, but mothers have hope when they have access to simple solutions. Proven, affordable tools should be at-hand for
Video
Feb 23, 2012
  As India announced in January 2012 that it has been polio free for a year, the bigger story that missed the headlines may have been the fact that the Indian States of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar - which have long been the endemic states - have
Blog
Feb 09, 2012
Vibe Ghana, February 2012In April 2012, Ghana will introduce two new vaccines that will protect children against pneumonia, diarrhea, and meningitis.Read the full article
Latest news
Feb 08, 2012
  The 1,000 days between a woman's pregnancy and her child's 2nd birthday represent a critical but short window of time to ensure a child's future health and prosperity. Children who are well-nourished during this critical window reap a lifetime of
Blog
Feb 02, 2012
  It was just a conference room in Delhi, not the Taj Mahal by any means. No lapis lazuli or other luxuries. (Although many would consider the flush toilets, hot water, and soap in the bathrooms down the hall as luxuries).   Here scientists are
Blog
Jan 18, 2012
  One of the tools that will help us defeat diarrheal disease is vaccines - both the rotavirus vaccines that are licensed and the vaccines against bacteria that cause diarrhea that are still in development.     So it was heartening in 2010, when
Blog
Jan 11, 2012
RotaFlash, January 2012The Phillipines has become the first country in Southeast Asia to implement the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommendation to introduce life-saving rotavirus vaccines through its national immunization program.Read the
Latest news
Jan 04, 2012
Reposted with permission of PATH In 2003, vaccines against rotavirus were poised to reach the global market, but surprisingly few people knew the virus' name, let alone that it was the leading cause of severe diarrheal disease. “We've never heard
Blog
Nov 01, 2011
This fact sheet summarizes PATH's projects in Vietnam that aimed to reduce childhood illness and death from diarrhea. Efforts included collaborations to update guidelines for health workers, clinical trials of rotavirus vaccines, and household water
Factsheets
Oct 25, 2011
Rotaflash, October 2011Findings from a study published in the Lancet show that child mortality from rotavirus remains high. Tragically, approximately 95% of rotavirus deaths occurred in countries that are eligible to receive GAVI-support to
Latest news
Sep 27, 2011
  It is with a quiet sense of hopefulness and excitement that I look ahead to the next couple of years as we hear about the growing impetus of African countries preparing to introduce rotavirus vaccines - it sounds almost like a building crescendo
Blog
Sep 27, 2011
GAVI Alliance, September 2011The GAVI Alliance today announced it will provide funding for 16 more developing countries to introduce rotavirus vaccines and 18 more countries to introduce pneumococcal vaccines -- a major step towards protecting
Latest news
Sep 14, 2011
  Call it what you will: joining up or combining interventions, integration or disaggregation. Whatever you call it, it is essential to achieving the Millennium Development Goals and to alleviating poverty and disease. We can't agree more with
Blog
Aug 31, 2011
CBC News, August 2011Vaccinating infants against rotavirus can also prevent serious diseases in unvaccinated older children and adults, a new study in The Journal of Infectious Diseases says.Read the full article
Latest news
Aug 09, 2011
Blog 4 Global Health, August 2011Dr. Amani Abdelmoniem Mustafa, manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunization for Sudan, gives a first hand account of the first child to receive a rotavirus vaccine in Sudan.Read the entire blog
Latest news
Jul 28, 2011
  In 2008, PATH was thrilled to welcome Dr. Duncan Steele as our senior advisor on diarrheal disease. For three decades, he has tracked rotavirus in Africa and is recognized worldwide as a leading expert. A recent outbreak, potentially due to
Blog
Jul 06, 2011
Reposted with the permission of GAVI Alliance Two and a half year-old Abdul lay inert on his mother's lap when we arrived at the Gondama Community Health Centre, a tiny rural clinic in southern Sierra Leone. Abdul's mother, Aisha Kamara, had just
Blog
Jun 07, 2011
These children are holding their immunization cards. One day, vaccines against ETEC could appear on this list. I was looking at the group of people around me, our “market assessment team,” and wondering how such a diverse collection of people would
Blog
May 17, 2011
New York Times, May 2011The Pan American Health Organization has announced that Haiti has come up with a plan to immunize 90% of its newborns by 2015. The plan includes pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines, among others. The ambitious plan will
Latest news
Apr 27, 2011
Gates Foundation Blog, April 2011"Dexiang Chen was born in Linshu, a rural town in the Shangdong province of China. During the height of the Cultural Revolution, his career was chosen for him: he would become a farmer. Now? Dexiang leads vaccine
Latest news
Apr 19, 2011
  It's been a year since defeatDD was born. Back then, I blogged about how diarrhea was often a joke at the party, but less often a serious contender for action in the world of global health. Over the past year, I've started to think maybe I was
Blog
Apr 14, 2011
In the village of Kamusinga, Kenya, parents learn about basic diarrheal disease prevention strategies from a community health volunteer. Memories of my stay in the bustling border town of Busia, Kenya, fill me with optimism. Last October, I
Blog
Mar 25, 2011
Voice of America, March 2011More than a million young children die each year from diarrhea, even though there's no secret about how to prevent or treat it. Now, public health experts have developed a new report showing that the vast majority of
Latest news
Mar 16, 2011
ONE Campaign, March 2011Dr. Mathuram Santosham, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, and Dr. Ciro A. de Quardos, Sabin Vaccine Institute, have teamed up to form ROTA: the Rotavirus Organization of Technical Allies. This group of experts "will
Latest news
Feb 22, 2011
The Huffington Post, February 2011Dr. Orin Levine, Executive Director of the International Vaccine Access Center at Johns Hopkins University, highlights an "uncommon reward" in a field that requires patience and persistence. "So what's different
Latest news
Feb 21, 2011
Reuters, February 2011A new report shows that research and development (R &D) funding for neglected diseases has increased, including funding for diarrhea, which is up to more than 5%. The report urges the continuation of more and better
Latest news
Feb 15, 2011
GOOD, February 2011"We are calling for ideas and projects that will raise awareness about this issue. We want you to submit your best idea for convincing people in your life—your friends, neighbors, family members—that vaccines matter and for
Latest news
Jan 31, 2011
Gates Foundation Blog, January 2011Remarkable news was recently announced, proving the real-world impact of vaccination in preventing rotavirus diarrhea, a common childhood disease that each year takes the lives of more than half a million children—
Latest news
Jan 24, 2011
Al Jazeera English, January 2011Save the Children has launched a campaign to mobilize funding for vaccines for the leading global killers of children: pneumonia and diarrhea.Read the full article
Latest news
Jan 12, 2011
bdnews24.com, January 2011Rotavirus season in Bangladesh leads to a major increase in cases among infants and children, but interventions like rotavirus vaccines and oral rehydration therapy have the potential to save thousands of lives.Read the
Latest news
Dec 14, 2010
HealthCanal.com, December 2010A new vaccine which prevents the most deadly forms of pneumonia – the world’s number one killer of children – was introduced today in the routine immunisation programme of a developing country, paving the way to
Latest news
Dec 09, 2010
Globe and Mail, December 2010Rotavirus infection – the most common cause of diarrhea and vomiting in young children – has essentially disappeared from the United States since the introduction of an oral vaccination program in 2006. The success of
Latest news
Dec 03, 2010
No children should die of diarrhea and, with a coordinated package of proven interventions, they don't have to. Rotavirus vaccines are among the newest tools in the fight against diarrheal disease and the only way to prevent severe infection. Follow
Video
Nov 11, 2010
On this Veterans Day, you may be surprised to learn that the US Department of Defense describes diarrhea as one of the top infectious disease threats to deployed American forces.   It's not exactly what you expect when you think about soldiers
Blog
Nov 09, 2010
This week, PATH is co-hosting a symposium - along with the Vietnamese Ministry of Health and Vietnam's National Pediatric Hospital - on the importance of taking an integrated approach to defeating diarrheal disease.  The gathering will bring
Blog
Oct 07, 2010
AndhraNews.net, September 2010"At an event hosted by UNICEF, the Republic of Kenya and the GAVI Alliance, health ministers, donors and the heads of UN agencies called for the introduction of new vaccines that can dramatically reduce deaths due to
Latest news
Sep 02, 2010
I vividly remember the night, nine years ago, when I franticly rushed my 9 month old son to Nairobi hospital due to a bad bout of diarrhea.Being my second child, I'd thought I'd seen all there was to see regarding the usual childhood illness: flu,
Blog
Aug 26, 2010
Reuters Health Information, August 2010A new study on Australia's infrant rotavirus vaccination program, launched in July 2007, shows that that the vaccines cut hospitalizations for rotavirus diarrhea by more than half in that age group. A reduction
Latest news
Aug 25, 2010
A cure for cancer.  A way to eradicate polio.  A vaccine against HIV. These are just a few examples of desperately needed medical breakthroughs.  Yet, despite strong support from both scientific and political communities, progress towards these
Blog
Aug 16, 2010
allAfrica.com, August 2010Dr. Dorothy Esangbedo, National President of the Paediatrics Association of Nigeria (PAN), describes immunization as the biggest gift that can be given to mankind. She asserts that Nigeria must urgently double its routine
Latest news
Aug 11, 2010
BMC Public Health, August 2010A recent study conducted in Spain found that the introduction of a rotavirus vaccine into routine immunization programs would reduce significantly the important medical and economic burden due to rotavirus infections in
Latest news
Aug 11, 2010
To the parents of a child who just received a potentially lifesaving vaccination against rotavirus, the molecular biology behind that vaccine may not get much consideration. Even the medical teams administering vaccinations might not be tuned in to
Blog
Aug 06, 2010
Check out new blogs posted today by our partners at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the ONE Campaign. New blogs posted today by our partners at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the ONE Campaign offer insight on the dramatic
Blog
Aug 03, 2010
It is hardly a month since the football frenzy ended, vuvuzelas were stored away, and South Africa could proudly say it was the first African nation to host the World Cup. South Africa boasts other firsts. It is the first African nation to host an
Blog
Aug 02, 2010
The burden of rotavirus is well known, particularly amongst the global health community. It's a leading cause of death amongst children under five. The virus claims the lives of more than 500,000 children each year and causes the hospitalization of
Blog
Jul 23, 2010
In a hot, dry town in Ghana called Navrongo, a group of mothers gathered one day last year at a health clinic. The mothers - about 30 of them - had traveled on foot and by bicycle, carrying their young children, to meet with the doctors and health
Blog
Jul 14, 2010
One of the biggest challenges in global health is matching resources to the areas where the most lives can be saved.  It is a very serious problem, because resources are always scarce, and when they are not targeted to those areas where the most
Blog
Jun 08, 2010
At the highest levels, the US Government is taking a close look at what brings the greatest return on its investment in foreign aid.  We agree with the Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) that the best investment is a health investment.
Blog
May 18, 2010
Reuters, May 2010A new government study shows that the number of children hospitalized for rotavirus infection dropped sharply after the U.S. introduced rotavirus vaccines in 2006.Read the full article.
Latest news
May 10, 2010
ONE, May 2010Tachi Yamada, President of the Gates Foundation's Global Health Program, outlines how the Foundation will focus its resources on providing vaccines that will prevent children like Emon from dying of major childhood killers like
Latest news
Mar 31, 2010
No one wants talk about it, but diarrheal disease is the second leading killer of children around the world. Watch this video to find out why and learn how you can add your voice to the growing conversation.
Video
Mar 30, 2010
On March 31, 2010, the Government of Kenya stepped out as a regional leader in the renewed fight against DD—unveiling an updated national policy to manage and control diarrheal disease.  The policy, which highlights traditional and new interventions
Other
Mar 12, 2010
One woman’s stand against diarrheal disease Women rarely hold office in Kenya. Florence Weke-sa is an exception. Currently deputy mayor of Kimilili, Florence is the first woman to hold the position and was the only female councilor on the Kimilili
Blog
Feb 01, 2010
CBS News, February 2010 The acute phase of destruction in Haiti is over, but the second phase of the emergency is still taking its toll: respiratory infections, malnutrition, diarrhea due to unsafe water, and a lack of appropriate food for young
Latest news
Jan 01, 2010
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, January 2010 Bill and Melinda Gates announced that they will commit $10 billion over the next 10 years to help research, develop, and deliver vaccines to developing countries. They cite PATH's Rotavirus Vaccine
Latest news
Oct 01, 2009
UNICEF, October 2009 This press release on the UNICEF website gives an overview of the recently launched report by WHO and UNICEF, Diarrhoeal Why Children Are Still Dying and What Can Be Done. It outlines the topics covered in the report, including
Latest news
Oct 01, 2009
United Nations Radio, October 2009 "It's a tragedy that diarrhoea, which is little more than an inconvenience in the developed world, kills an estimated 1.5 million children each year says UNICEF Executive Director, Ann Veneman. She says inexpensive
Latest news
Oct 01, 2009
Collection Development Blog, October 2009 This article outlines the findings of the new UNICEF/WHO report, Diarrhoea: Why Children Are Still Dying and What Can Be Done, including the seven-point prevention and treatment strategy. Several effective,
Latest news
Oct 01, 2009
ONE, October 2009 Dr. Amador, Director of Health Systems and Technology in Nicaragua at PATH, blogs about the incredible strides his country has made in the fight against diarrheal disease, thanks to PATH's partnership to provide the rotavirus
Latest news
Sep 01, 2009
New York Times, September 2009 Simple solutions like exclusive breastfeeding and the commitment of community health workers have helped drive down child deaths in the developing world, according to new data from UNICEF. But to reach the Millennium
Latest news
Sep 01, 2009
Stories on Malawi, September 2009 PATH's Evan Simpson writes about the importance of an integrated approach in the fight against diarrheal disease. He highlights momentum already happening in Malawi specifically, having just spoken at the annual
Latest news
Sep 01, 2009
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, September 2009The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Living Proof Project seeks to show Americans that U.S. investment in global health is working. This four minute video spotlights the impact of rotavirus vaccine
Latest news
Aug 01, 2009
6 Minutes, August 2009 "The first Australian evidence has emerged to show that rotavirus vaccine has resulted in a substantial reduction in rotavirus disease activity since routine infant immunisation began in July 2007." Read the full article.
Latest news
Jul 01, 2009
The Huffington Post, July 2009 "While memories of President Obama speech in Ghana promising a 'comprehensive, global health strategy' are fresh, we hope he, Ghanian President John Atta-Mills and other world leaders do not miss an opportunity to
Latest news
Jul 01, 2009
Science Daily, July 2009 "New vaccines have the potential to prevent or temper epidemics of the childhood diarrhea-causing disease rotavirus, protect the unvaccinated and raise the age at which the infection first appears in children, federal
Latest news
Jul 01, 2009
The Jakarta Post, July 2009 The author of this article outlines the most frequent causes of diarrhea in developing countries, warning signs for parents of sick children, and the "dos and don'ts" of treatment options.Read the full article.
Latest news
Jun 01, 2009
Crosscut, June 2009 "It was when he read about rotavirus, a cause of widespread death of children from diarrhea. A decade later, Gates Foundation's efforts have brought about WHO approval of a rotavirus vaccine." Read the full article.
Latest news
Jun 01, 2009
New York Times, June 2009 The news media is worst at covering public health because it is "unglamorous and overwhelming," asserts Nicholas Kristof in his blog. He cites the WHO universal recommendation of the rotavirus vaccine as an example of an
Latest news
May 01, 2009
IPIU, May 2009 Shanely Knox highlights the preventable nature of diarrheal disease and makes a case for simple solutions that deserve more attention, using stories from the field and input from experts.Read the full article.
Latest news
May 01, 2009
Center for Global Development, May 2009 Scott Kniaz, program coordinator on the Global Health Team at the Center for Global Development, discusses the comprehensive advocacy approach embodied in the recently launched Call to Action against diarrheal
Latest news
May 01, 2009
IRIN, May 2009 International Vaccine Institute director John Clemens argues for a coordinated effort against diarrheal diseases. “It is a false dichotomy to pit sanitation against vaccination,” he asserts. “Progressively, people are thinking about
Latest news
May 01, 2009
The Huffington Post, May 2009 Author Richard Chin advocates for action against diarrheal disease--the second leading cause of death in children--and urges readers to join the fight against this "senseless killer."Read the full article.
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Apr 01, 2009
New York Times, April 2009 An op-ed column by Bono, co-founder of the advocacy group ONE, highlights rotavirus as a "killer pest" that our aid money would be well spent on. "It's not charity, it's justice."Read the full article.
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Oct 01, 2008
Medical News Today, October 2008 WHO prequalification is an important milestone for making new rotavirus vaccines available for procurement by UNICEF and the GAVI Alliance, increasing access for the developing world.Read full article here.
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Dont Stall graphic for World Toilet Day
While this list is by no means exhaustive, these global health observance days enjoy a guaranteed recurring reservation on our annual DefeatDD work plan as opportunities to generate greater attention to one or more solutions to defeat diarrheal
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