This archive report was first published on 10 September 2019.
On September 10, 2019, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi) unveiled a plan to significantly boost vaccine supply in Kenya and other developing countries.
The ambitious plan aims to increase the number of vaccines from six to 18 by 2025, with a focus on life-saving vaccines such as rabies, multivalent meningococcal, yellow fever, and cholera.
As part of this initiative, Gavi will help Kenya procure vaccines, including funding for an Ebola vaccine stockpile once it is pre-qualified by the World Health Organisation.
To achieve this goal, Gavi has launched a fundraising drive targeting $7.4 billion, with the aim of immunising an additional 300 million children in developing countries between 2021 and 2025.
According to Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the vaccine alliance has helped protect a generation against deadly diseases over the past two decades.
Dr Berkley highlighted the alarming rate of preventable deaths, with 1.5 million people dying every year, and the increasing spread of outbreaks due to climate change, conflict, and urbanisation.
He also emphasized the significant return on investment in immunisation, with each dollar invested generating up to $54 in wider societal benefits.
By vaccinating children, Gavi aims to improve education outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and alleviate poverty among families.
