IVI in the Media
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IVI and Sweden Partner to Discover, Develop, and Deliver Vaccines for the Developing World
Discover, Develop, and Deliver Vaccines
for the Developing World
SEOUL, KOREA – The International Vaccine Institute (IVI), a Seoul-based non-profit international organization, announced today that it has entered into a five-year agreement on core support with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). As a representative of the Swedish government on Sweden’s Policy for Global Development, Sida has agreed to support IVI’s core activities to help fulfill the Institute’s mission to discover, develop, and deliver safe, effective, and affordable vaccines for the world’s developing nations. The Swedish contribution totals 34.5 million Swedish Krona (approximately $5 million USD) and is effective from 2015 to 2019.
“We are extremely grateful to Sida and the Swedish government for their commitment to IVI,” said Mr. John Morahan, IVI’s Acting Director General and Chief Financial Officer, “With previous Swedish support, IVI led the initiative to accelerate the development and introduction of the world’s first low-cost oral cholera vaccine. This vaccine was prequalified by the World Health Organization and is now being used to fight cholera around the world by agencies such as UNICEF.”
IVI and Sweden have had a longstanding partnership. Sweden is one of the 35 signatory countries on IVI’s Establishment Agreement and has been so since IVI’s inception in 1997. It has contributed significantly to the organization’s development and growth throughout the years. Sida has financially supported IVI since 2002, and Sweden continues to be a member of IVI’s Board of Trustees. The Institute also hosted Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden during her state visit to South Korea in May 2012.
In addition to development of the oral cholera vaccine, with Swedish support, IVI established a state-of-the-art vaccine research and training laboratory in Kolkata, India; organized an annual vaccinology course for developing country health professionals and scientists that has become the flagship vaccinology course in the Asia-Pacific region; established a policy and economic research unit to help government officials and decision makers make informed policy decisions on vaccine introduction; and successfully expanded its field research programs from Asia to Africa.
"We are proud to be one of the contributors to IVI", said Mrs. Anna Maria Oltorp, Head of Unit for Research Cooperation, Sida. "The Swedish funds are provided as core support, which we consider to be a strategic choice in order to allow IVI to further develop its scientific agenda. If IVI has to rely on project funding alone there is a clear risk that the innovative thinking will be hampered."
“Sweden is among our most important stakeholders, which also includes our host country of South Korea and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” said Mr. Morahan “With continued support from Sweden, IVI will continue to make a greater impact by improving the health of the world’s most vulnerable populations through vaccines and vaccination. We look forward to continuing the partnership with Sida in the years to come.”
About IVI
The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) is the world’s only international organization devoted exclusively to developing and introducing new and improved vaccines to protect the world’s poorest people, especially children in developing countries. Established in 1997, IVI operates as an independent international organization under a treaty signed by 35 countries and the World Health Organization. The Institute conducts research in more than 20 countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America on vaccines against enteric and diarrheal infections, Japanese encephalitis, and dengue fever, and develops new and improved vaccines at its headquarters in Seoul, Republic of Korea. For more information, please visit http://www.ivi.int.
Media Contact:
Tae Kyung Byun
Public Awareness/Advocacy Officer, IVI
Phone: +82-2-872-2801 (Ext. 159)
Mobile: +82-11-9773-6071
Email: tkbyun@ivi.int