Kerry Announces Comprehensive Vaccine Plan

Vaccines for the New Millennium Act combats world’s deadliest diseases

February 24, 2000

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator John F. Kerry, today announced his proposal to spur research and development of vaccines against HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. His nine-point plan, the Vaccines for the New Millennium Act, unifies the public health community, advocates and the private sector in the fight against the world's deadliest infectious diseases. The Kerry plan provides tax incentives for vaccine R&D, creates market mechanisms for the purchase and distribution of vaccines in developing countries, authorizes funding for multilateral vaccine and immunization efforts, and establishes a commission to coordinate public-private partnerships for vaccine development. Kerry announced his plan at a hearing of the Africa Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"Last year tuberculosis, AIDS and malaria killed 5.2 million people. This is not a problem waiting to happen -- it is already catastrophe of the worst order. Today, I am presenting the first comprehensive plan in the Senate to begin to reverse this death spiral," said Kerry. "Affordable and effective vaccines against these three diseases are the only sure way to eradicate these pandemics."

Kerry's bill provides creative financing mechanisms to unleash the energy of the private sector, which offers the best hope for new vaccine breakthroughs. The bill increases the existing R&D tax credit for qualified research into vaccines against TB, malaria and AIDS, and establishes an investment credit for smaller biotechnology companies which engage in lifesaving vaccine research. In addition, the bill builds on President's Clinton call for a vaccine purchasing tax credit which would double the purchasing power of non-profit organizations which buy and distribute new vaccines against any disease which kills more than one million people a year.

The Kerry plan also includes a trust fund for the purchase of new vaccines, thereby creating a market for developing countries which desperately need vaccines. It calls on the President to negotiate with other countries and multilateral banks to establish an international fund to finance the purchase of new vaccines. It also authorizes U.S. contributions to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations as well as the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative.

"We, as a responsible member of the international community, should instill the appropriate incentives to encourage research in lifesaving areas the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors have previously ignored," said Kerry. "This is a moral imperative."

Contact: David Wade (202) 224-4159