On March 26, the New York Times published an article stating the United States (U.S.) government’s intention to end funding for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. This concerning development puts children at risk—especially the most vulnerable. Ending U.S. support threatens vaccine access for millions of children around the world.
Since Gavi’s launch in 2000, the U.S. has actively partnered with and contributed to Gavi’s mission. The U.S. contribution has resulted in the vaccination of 155 million children and has averted an estimated 2.7 million future deaths. The return on investment is unmatched, with each dollar invested generating US$54 in economic returns.
At VillageReach, we have built strong partnerships with African governments to implement vaccination programs that support their efforts to vaccinate all children. We have seen the direct positive impact of Gavi’s support on child health and on preventing outbreaks before they can spread. We also understand the negative impact this will have on global health security. By ending its support for Gavi, the U.S. is not only risking the gains made in preventing diseases like measles and polio; it’s also withdrawing from a system that helps detect outbreaks early, strengthens health systems and prevents the global spread of diseases, including in the U.S.
We strongly urge Congress to maintain its commitment to Gavi, which helps save lives and create a safer, stronger and healthier world for all.
###
About VillageReach
VillageReach transforms health care delivery to reach everyone. We are driven by a vision of a world where each person has the health care needed to thrive. VillageReach works with governments, the private sector, partners and communities to build responsive primary health care systems that deliver health products and services to the most-under-reached. As a locally driven and globally connected organization working across Africa, VillageReach’s primary goal is to reduce inequities in access to quality primary health care for 350 million people by 2030.