The U.S. was notably absent this month when Britain, Canada, Italy, Norway and Russia promised $1.5 billion to help pay for vaccines against pneumococcal disease, which causes pneumonia and meningitis and is responsible for some two million child deaths a year, mostly in developing countries. That could change: Sen. Richard Lugar, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has recently introduced the "Vaccines for the Future Act of 2007" and is leading the charge for U.S. support of Advance Market Commitments for vaccines. Read the blog and comment
