IVI is an international non-profit organization devoted to developing and introducing new and improved vaccines to protect the people, especially children, against deadly infectious diseases.
It was established in 1997 on the initiatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Its work is exclusively on vaccine development and introduction specifically for people in developing countries, with a focus on neglected diseases affecting these regions.
Currently, IVI has 40 countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) as signatories to its Establishment Agreement.
Why in news? India has become full-time member of IVI