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José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, opens the GAVI Alliance Replenishment launch event in Brussels.
Credit: GAVI/2014/Bernal Revert.
Brussels, 20 May 2014 - José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, opened the GAVI Alliance Replenishment launch event in Brussels with a pledge to increase the European Union’s contribution to the Alliance to €175 million for 2014-20. This marks a substantial increase from the €39 million contributed in the previous period.
The EU pledge is the first response to the GAVI Alliance request for an additional US$ 7.5 billion over five years to fund its investment opportunity for 2016 – 2020. With full funding, GAVI will be able to help countries to immunise an additional 300 million children, saving six million lives.
Addressing the EC-hosted replenishment launch meeting in Brussels, GAVI CEO Dr Seth Berkley pledged to continue bringing vaccines to some of the most inaccessible areas of the world.
Dr Seth Berkley, GAVI Alliance CEO, at the High-Level Replenishment launch event. Credit: GAVI/2014/Bernal Revert.
Fully protected
“Today, less than 5% of children are fully protected with the 11 vaccines recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO),” Dr Berkley told donors in Brussels.
“In the next period, we will be able to move from 5% to 50%.”
Dr Berkley underlined that the Alliance’s model is based on contributions from developing countries and vaccine manufacturers, as well as from donors. “This will also protect the investments that have been made and pave the way for sustainability,” he said.
President Mulatu Teshome of Ethiopia at the High-Level Replenishment launch event. Credit: GAVI/2014/Bernal Revert.
Cost-effective
President Mulatu Teshome of Ethiopia underlined the impact of immunisation in developing countries. “Immunisation is one of the most cost effective investments that we are making in our children and our future,” he said.
“Just two weeks ago, African leaders promised to prioritise sustainable immunisation programmes,” he said.
“It clearly demonstrates the role that African leaders are playing in the GAVI Alliance.”