EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/447

(2004/C 88 E/0456)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3023/03

by Anders Wijkman (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 October 2003)

Subject: Combating meningitis in Africa

Meningitis epidemics frequently occur in Africa, killing and permanently disabling thousands of people. The emergence of a new strain of the meningitis bacteria — W135 — has rendered the traditionally used vaccine insufficient, if not useless. In record time, a public-private partnership, under the leadership of WHO, has been able to produce a vaccine against the new strain. In order to ensure an effective response in the case of a likely outbreak in parts of Africa early in 2004, a stock of several million doses of the new vaccine will be needed. The estimated cost for an effective preparedness programme is estimated at EUR 8,5 million. Most of that money has to be spent immediately and cannot wait for an epidemic to occur.

What will be the role of the EU in the efforts to prevent a serious meningitis epidemic in the so-called meningitis belt countries in the short term?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 2003)

The European Commission is aware of the worrying situation of meningitis epidemics in Africa, particularly in view of the emergence of the new W-135 strain.

The European Community is supporting in West Africa, the region worst affected, the regional programme ‘Support for the Strengthening of vaccine independence in Africa d'Appui au reinforcement de ľlndependence Vaccinale en Afrique’. This programme strengthens the co-ordination amongst countries in the region to the management and mobilisation of vaccine stocks, in collaboration with WHO. This programme, in collaboration with ECHO, proved itself most effective in the last yellow fever epidemics in the region, and could also support related activities for meningitis epidemics.

At present a health sector programme under the West Africa Regional Strategy (EUR 15 million) is being identified by the European Commission and we are exploring the possibilities on preparedness (including vaccine stocks), early detection and response to the main epidemics (including meningitis) in the region. More efficient prevention would come from extending trivalent vaccine to endemic countries through strategies such as those supported by GAVI and others in the region, but there are still technical difficulties in the immunogenicity of this vaccine for children and hence its inclusion in the Expanded Programme of Immunization. The European Community is also supporting research into more effective and appropriate meningitis vaccines.

The European Community also has a clear strategy in Disaster Preparedness and Prevention (DPP) in place and there is a need to increase DPP support from our regular programming (A or B envelops), subject to the prioritization by our partner countries.

During the last year, the European Community funded interventions in response to outbreaks of meningitis in Africa for a total of EUR 920 000 through ECHO. The bulk of this contribution was directed to the purchasing of around 600 000 doses of meningitis vaccines, most of the Trivalent ACW including the classical A and C serotypes, and the new resistant strain W135. At present ECHO is designing a one-year programme to react more rapidly to epidemics in the region. The Commission is also contributing to essential prevention and care services which will be the basis for long term capacities in early warning, detection and reaction to epidemics in the region.

In the framework of humanitarian interventions dealt with by the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), as a general principle no pre-positioning of stocks can be financed in connection with the forecast of a potential humanitarian emergency. ECHO's policy is to tackle identified needs in a given humanitarian crisis, and resources are speedily mobilised through ECHO implementing partners when emergencies break out, upon presentation of operational proposals by humanitarian organisations. Costs incurred by partners that fall within the operational period are financed by ECHO, which may also consider the cost of products purchased and put into stock before the grant is signed and for which later distribution takes place, provided that these stocks are used within the contract period and in the framework of the financed operation.