Article at a glance:

Vaccines where they're needed

People in the developing world often go without the vaccines they need. In the first place, vaccines for the diseases that afflict it are too expensive for countries with annual health care spending of less than $10 a head. Moreover, the development of vaccines for these diseases is usually a risky and unprofitable enterprise for pharmaceuticals companies.

The take-away

By assuming some of the risks borne by the makers of vaccines, governments and international organizations could reduce the cost of bringing them to market.