Temperature-Stable Vaccines for Developing Countries: Significance and Development Strategies. Summary of a Workshop. Held on April 13-14, 1987

摘要

The workshop was intended to assess: (1) the relative importance of faccine temperature sensitivity in hindering immunization efforts in developing countries; (2) what is known about the causes of temperature sensitivity; (3) new approaches to vaccines in relation to such sensitivity; (4) research and development strategies most likely to produce vaccines with the best characteristics for use in developing countries; and (5) the readiness of the field of vaccine stability for major investment. Maintaining the immunization 'cold chain' is a significant problem in developing countries and account for a significant 36 percent of the vaccine distribution system. Since radical improvements in vaccine thermostability are not likely to become feasible in the near future, near-term efforts should therefore be targeted toward: (1) further improvement in the existing cold chain; (2) ensuring that vaccines used in immunization efforts are the most thermostable that can be produced; and (3) utilization of known stabilizers in all preparations.