The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization said it needs USD4.3 billion from now to 2015 to sustain its programs and develop vaccines against two of African children’s biggest killers: pneumonia and diarrhea.
Of the amount, USD2.6 billion is urgently needed to introduce the vaccines.
“If we do not, children will die in large numbers unnecessarily,” GAVI Alliance CEO Julian Lob-Levyt said.
With the amount, GAVI eyes immunizing 240 million children and preventing 4 million deaths by 2015.
The appeal came in a June 16 press release announcing the publication of the alliance’s 10th anniversary progress report.
The report indicates that immunization rates reached nearly 80 percent in 2009, the highest since GAVI’s inception in 2000. The year also saw 44 of the world’s poorest countries co-financing GAVI-supported vaccines as required under the co-financial policy of the alliance. Of that number, 17 went beyond the required levels, which amount to USD0.10 to USD0.30 per dose, and three decided to co-finance ahead of their required starting date.
The alliance’s board is due to meet June 23 to weigh a proposal requiring countries eligible to receive GAVI aid to contribute to new vaccine support and allocate new and additional funding to co-finance GAVI vaccines.
