A Global Pledge to Immunize Half a Billion Children and Strengthen Our Global Health Security
On Thursday, June 20, 2024, the United States government announced a significant commitment to immunize children and enhance global health security. Administrator Samantha Power shared that the U.S. will work with Congress to pledge over $1.5 billion to Gavi over the next five years, building on a longstanding partnership that has already saved millions of lives.
This commitment, made at the launch of Gavi’s replenishment in Paris, aims to save more than eight million lives by expanding vaccination efforts. It will focus on reaching children who have not received vaccines, scaling up vaccinations for diseases like malaria and cervical cancer, and preparing countries to respond effectively to health emergencies.
Notably, the launch of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA) coincided with this announcement. The AVMA will assist African nations in producing vaccines locally, fostering vaccine equity and improving responses to future health crises. The United States has been a supporter of AVMA since its inception and looks forward to collaborating with the African Union to advance this vital initiative.
From combating smallpox to distributing COVID-19 vaccines globally, USAID has played a crucial role in investing in immunization efforts. The upcoming period is expected to be Gavi’s most impactful phase, with a focus on vaccinating more children against a wider range of diseases at an accelerated pace. This endeavor underscores the importance of international coordination and cooperation in saving lives through immunization.
The U.S. encourages all countries to make bold commitments to Gavi to collectively save millions more lives. This initiative marks a significant step towards ensuring the health and well-being of children worldwide.
