Gavi, global vaccine alliance, generated $220bn in economic benefits for countries in 23 yrs

• Saves 6 lives every minute

• Malaria vaccine, latest product, reduces child mortality by 13%

• Calls on govts to invest in immunization; seeks more global partners, people to join call

• Launches ‘humanly possible’ campaign on humanity’s vaccines achievements

Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, rendering a report on its activities since its establishment in 2000, says it generated more than $220 billion in economic benefits for the countries it serves.

Jose Manuel Barroso, board chair at Gavi, said COVID-19 and climate change are teaching the world that infectious diseases threaten everyone — and vaccines are amongst the best tools the world has to fight back against their impact on lives and economies.

“More than 23 years of investments in health systems and immunisation campaigns have helped countries remain resilient in the face of threats, and Gavi programmes are estimated to have generated more than US$220 billion in economic benefits for the countries we serve.

“From …this new report, it is clear: with at least six lives saved every minute over half a century, vaccines are one of the most cost-effective investments in health and development in history. And that is just from the 14 vaccines examined …, a portion of the vaccines countries around the world deliver to through their health systems,” Barroso said at a panel meeting to mark the 50th anniversary of EPI.

Barroso said, for lower-income countries around the world, as well as several middle-income countries, immunisation takes place with the support of Gavi. The organisation was established to build on and intensify the progress made by the EPI programme. It brought together the full Alliance of immunisation stakeholders, including the core partners — WHO, UNICEF and the Gates Foundation — with one goal: equitable access to vaccines for the most vulnerable.

The alliance was established because new products needed to get to lower-income countries faster, after initial progress; coverage rates had stalled and needed to improve; and these countries needed a partner to support them and invest in the path towards sustainable immunisation systems, he explained.

The panelists included the WHO, UNICEF, and Gates Foundation

According to Barroso, in a little over two decades, the Gavi Alliance has had incredible impact: an entire generation of children — more than 1 billion — have been protected against a range of diseases. Coverage rates in the regions it focuses on, such as Africa and South Asia have dramatically improved and childhood mortality has fallen.

The Gavi board chair said, through the alliance, lower-income countries can access affordable vaccines suited to their settings, and protect their populations against 20 infectious diseases, including those delivered through EPI programmes in each country.

The alliance board chair said its new product, the malaria vaccine – according to studies — reduces child mortality by 13%. The organisation is working with more than 30 African countries and partners like the Global Fund to roll the vaccine out. He said Gavi-funded global stockpiles of vaccines against Ebola, cholera, yellow fever and meningitis help protect the world against outbreaks.

It launched a ‘humanly possible’ campaign to remind the world that vaccines are one of humanity’s greatest achievements, and also one of the best investments the world can make in collective health, security and development.

It prepares to raise funds for the next five years or work supporting immunisation efforts that reach more than half the world’s children, protect the world against outbreaks and help us be better prepared for the next pandemic. It calls on governments everywhere to invest in the project, and for partners and people around the world to join in the call.