Pediatric Dengue Vaccine Initiative (PDVI)
In order to accelerate the development and introduction of a dengue vaccine that is appropriate, safe and accessible to poor children in endemic countries, the Pediatric Dengue Vaccine Initiative (PDVI) was established in 2001. Its aim is to raise awareness about the disease and to work with public and private partners in developed and developing countries.

Some of the Initiative's goals include:
• Coordinate country surveys needed to better define the burden of dengue illness;
• Support R&D and enhance developing country science capacity;
• Prepare and launch a scientific blueprint charting the challenges and opportunities (biotechnology, new vaccine approaches) that must be met to achieve a safe, effective and affordable pediatric dengue vaccine.

No specific treatment is currently available and strategies focusing on vector-control have so far been insufficient to counter the pandemic. Dengue vaccines offer an impending solution to control this major global health problem and existing technologies have resulted in several robust dengue vaccine candidates, but many challenges remain. The consensus is that a safe, broadly protective dengue vaccine for children can be achieved in a matter of years by a focused, intense effort.

The PDVI headquarters are hosted by the International Vaccine Institute, located in Seoul (Korea). The Initiative is supported by governments of endemic countries, academic research centers in the US and South-East Asia and the pharmaceutical industry, including Aventis and GlaxoSmithKline.