$4.3 billion sought for vaccines

A further $4.3 billion (Dh15.78bn) is needed if a global vaccines alliance is to meet its goal of supplying life-saving immunisations to millions of children in poor countries by 2015, the organisation said yesterday. The Gavi Alliance said it had asked donors to a meeting in The Hague on March 25 and 26 to challenge them to "make a strong impact" on childhood death rates.