Vaccine body supports WHO action on pneumonia

GENEVA (AP) - A global vaccine group says the World Health Organization will pass an important resolution later this week to step up efforts against pneumonia.

Former Irish President Mary Robinson says the GAVI alliance, a partner of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, wants to send pneumonia and rotavirus vaccines to more than 40 developing countries. But it needs $2.6 billion in funding through 2015.

Robinson, GAVI's chairwoman, said Tuesday that WHO's support was a "terrific step forward. Pneumonia is the biggest child killer, and there's such an inequity to it."

Britain proposed the resolution at WHO's 193-nation World Health Assembly. It will likely be passed Friday.

Britain's GlaxoSmithKline and U.S.-based Pfizer Inc. make pneumonia vaccines.