PARIS — In video remarks at the Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden announced the United States will pledge at least $1.58 billion over the next five years to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the critically important global health program ensuring children are protected from preventable disease.  

This is the first time the US has made a five-year commitment to Gavi, which has vaccinated 1 billion children since its inception in 2000.  

“We commend the Biden Administration for this strong show of global leadership — strong US support for Gavi is a powerful motivator for other countries to step up and meet the moment,” said Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, President and CEO of The ONE Campaign. “To make an unprecedented five-year commitment — and to see Dr. Biden make this announcement on a global stage — shows how serious the US is about maintaining its legacy of global health leadership and ensuring Gavi can continue the critically important work of ensuring every child is safe from preventable disease. 

“ONE looks forward to working with Congress over the next five years to fund this pledge of least $1.58 billion.”  

Background 

Gavi officially launched its investment opportunity at Thursday’s Forum in Paris. Gavi is seeking new pledges in the amount of US$9.0 billion for the 2026-2030 period. The Alliance, which has prevented 17.3 million deaths globally, seeks a strong replenishment to assist with its efforts to vaccinate more children, against more diseases, and faster than ever before as well as support the rollout of the new malaria vaccine, launched in Cameroon earlier this year. With full funding Gavi will seek to immunize at least 500 million more children and save an additional 8-9 million lives between 2026-2030.  

ONE President and CEO Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli attended the Paris event and spoke to world leaders about the importance of expanding Africa’s capability to manufacture their own vaccines. New analysis from ONE found that Africa will need to produce 73-times as many vaccines than their current capacity to meet the African Union’s target of producing 60% of Africa’s vaccines in Africa by 2040.