MSD at the forefront of promoting healthy population for growth

ISTANBUL – MSD continues its support of the World Health Organization (WHO) initiative, World Immunization Week 2016, whose “Closing The Immunization Gap” campaign focuses on promoting the use of vaccines against some of the world’s deadliest diseases, with particular focus on the need to improve uptake among adolescents and adults. World Immunization Week provides a platform to celebrate the public health impact of vaccination while also addressing the barriers that still exist. As a part of World Immunization Week activities, which ran last April 24-30, MSD has gathered together leading medical and media experts from the countries of the Middle East for a workshop on the value which vaccines bring to the modern world and the urgency of closing the immunization gap, an issue that affects millions of children and adults worldwide. “Vaccines are considered to be one of the greatest medical achievements of modern times, helping to eradicate smallpox and nearly eradicating polio,” said Dr. Xavier Bosch, MD, PhD, one of the leading world experts in infectious disease, at the opening session of the workshop. “Today, according to the World Health Organization, vaccines help prevent illness occurring from more than 30 common infectious diseases. Despite these successes, there are still disparities in vaccination coverage for all ages, especially adults. Adults are at significant risk as their immune systems do not fight diseases as well as when they were younger, leaving them more prone to chronic conditions and other diseases.” “Prevention is an important part to maintaining a healthy population, and vaccination at all stages of life - infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood - can help to achieve this goal. Some diseases may cause serious harm leading to hospitalization, and in some cases death, so it is important that adults are aware of these diseases and the vaccines that can help prevent them. We hope World Immunization Week will encourage people to talk with their health care provider to learn more about which vaccines are recommended for themselves and their family,” said Nabi Kanibir, Regional Medical Affairs Director for Vaccines at MSD. "MSD has been committed to vaccines for more than 100 years, and remains dedicated to investment in innovation and support of vaccination programs to help people live healthier lives.” — SG