List of Prequalified Vaccines

List of Prequalified Vaccines

The List of Prequalified Vaccines refers to vaccines that have been evaluated and approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being safe, efficacious, and suitable for use in global immunization programs. This prequalification process is crucial for countries, especially those with limited resources, to make informed decisions about vaccine procurement and to ensure the quality of vaccines used in public health initiatives.

Overview

The WHO prequalification of vaccines is a comprehensive process that assesses the quality, safety, and efficacy of vaccines intended for use in global health. This process involves a rigorous review of clinical trial data, manufacturing practices, and regulatory compliance. Vaccines that meet the WHO's standards are added to the list of prequalified vaccines, making them eligible for procurement by United Nations agencies and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Importance

The prequalification process plays a vital role in global health by:

• Ensuring the availability of quality vaccines in low- and middle-income countries.
• Facilitating the procurement process for countries and international organizations.
• Promoting competition among manufacturers, which can lead to lower vaccine prices.
• Encouraging manufacturers to adhere to high standards of quality, safety, and efficacy.

Prequalified Vaccines

The list of prequalified vaccines includes a wide range of products for the prevention of various infectious diseases. Some of the key vaccines that have been prequalified include:

• Measles vaccine
• Polio vaccine
• Hepatitis B vaccine
• Tetanus vaccine
• Diphtheria vaccine
• Pertussis vaccine
• Human papillomavirus vaccine
• Influenza vaccine
• Rotavirus vaccine
• Meningococcal vaccine

Process

The prequalification process involves several key steps:

1. Application Submission: Vaccine manufacturers submit an application to the WHO for prequalification.
2. Dossier Review: The WHO reviews the submitted dossier, which includes detailed information on the vaccine's quality, safety, and efficacy.
3. Site Inspection: The WHO conducts inspections of the manufacturing sites to ensure compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
4. Laboratory Testing: Samples of the vaccine are tested in WHO-approved laboratories.
5. Decision: Based on the review and inspections, the WHO makes a decision on prequalification.

Challenges and Future Directions

While the WHO prequalification process has significantly contributed to global health, challenges remain, such as the need for more vaccines to address emerging infectious diseases and the expansion of the prequalification program to include new vaccine technologies. Future directions may include:

• Enhancing the efficiency of the prequalification process.
• Expanding the list of prequalified vaccines to include new and underutilized vaccines.
• Strengthening regulatory systems in low- and middle-income countries.

See Also

• Vaccine safety
• Global health
• Immunization programs
• Vaccine procurement