The Research Council of Norway’s Programme for Global Health and Vaccination Research (GLOBVAC) has helped to fund the development of a vaccine against the deadly rotavirus, which affects children in particular. The vaccine is now being added to India’s immunisation programme.

Working together with international research groups, Indian researchers have developed the Rotavac vaccine, which can save thousands of lives. Low pricing will make the vaccine accessible for millions of children in low and lower-middle income countries.

The GLOBVAC programme has helped to fund development of the vaccine with a contribution of NOK 24 million of the total project budget of NOK 180 million.

Globally, approximately half a million children under the age of five die from diarrhoea as a result of the rotavirus each year. The virus is spread as a result of poor hand hygiene and numerous countries in Africa and Asia are severely affected.

Photo: The Rota virus vaccine was launched as part of India’s vaccination programme on 26 March 2016.