The largest cause of death in the world is not heart disease, nor cancer, but infectious diseases. More than 52 million people die each year and roughly one-third of those deaths occur among children and young adults as a result of infectious diseases. Developing countries bear the burden of the majority of these 17 millions deaths per year. The loss of a child, a mother, a father or a worker to a preventable infectious disease is socially appalling, economically improverishing and ethically unacceptable.
Vaccines are the most cost-effective medical intervention known to prevent death and disease.
Activities of the IVI will focus on filling major gaps that exist in strategic research, product development, technical support and capacity building for vaccines of priority concern in developing countries. It will carry out its work in collaboration with UN and other international agencies. The IVI will strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries for vaccine development and the introduction of vaccines through, for example, training and technical assistance. In addition, the IVI will undertake strategic research designed to accelerate the introduction of vaccines, especially in poor countries. The IVI is the world's only international institute established under the auspices of the United Nations dedicated to research and development for vaccines against infectious diseases that affect the poor, and especially children.