Geneva: Funding for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is urgently needed, according to Save the Children, as donors, public and private partners, and civil society convene at Gavi’s High-Level Pledging Summit. The summit aims to secure at least US$ 9 billion from donors to protect 500 million children and save at least 8 million lives from 2026-2030.
According to Save the Children, the CEO Inger Ashing emphasized the critical role vaccines have played in global health improvement. For over two centuries, vaccines have helped extend the lives of children and adults. In the last 50 years alone, vaccines have saved more than 154 million people and reduced the global impact of infectious diseases. The organization warns that this progress is at risk without adequate funding.
Save the Children highlighted that Gavi plays a crucial role in making vaccines affordable and accessible to vulnerable populations. The organization stressed that maintaining global funding for Gavi should be a straightforward decision for governments, as vaccination contributes to global safety. An increase in funding would enable Gavi to strengthen health systems, deliver more vaccines to children, and focus on those who are under-immunized or in high-risk areas.