WASHINGTON – A new report found immunizations provided by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, helped save 1.3 million lives from preventable disease in 2023. Gavi has prevented a total of 18.8 million deaths since 2000.  

Last year alone, Gavi helped immunize 69 million children against diseases like diphtheria, measles, and cholera. Earlier this year, many countries in Africa, including Cameroon, Liberia, and Burkina Faso, began the rollout out of the first routine malaria vaccine with support from Gavi.

“Time and time again, we’ve seen it proven: Programs like Gavi, The Global Fund, and PEPFAR consistently deliver life-saving progress,” said Suzanne Granville, Executive Director for North America at The ONE Campaign. “Continued U.S. investment in these programs is a down payment on a safer, healthier, and more prosperous future – a world in which healthy children can go to school, their parents can work, and their communities can thrive.

“As we approach Gavi’s upcoming replenishment, we thank Congress for its continued support of childhood immunization programs – especially those bipartisan and bicameral members who have already expressed support for Gavi this year. President Biden’s ambitious pledge of at least $1.58 billion over five years is a strong sign of support for Gavi’s next strategic period. ONE will continue to work with Congress to ensure these important funds are delivered.”

Other highlights from the report:

• 1.1 billion children immunized in 78 countries from 2000-2023
• 55 vaccine programs originally introduced with Gavi funding are now self-financed by countries as of 2023, up from 40 in 2018.
• $250 billion in economic benefits generated in the countries Gavi supports between 2000-2023
• 14 million girls were vaccinated against HPV with Gavi support in 2023 – more than were vaccination in previous ten years combined.

African leaders are taking steps to achieve vaccine sovereignty by 2040. To get there, African manufacturers will need to produce 73 times more vaccines than they produce today. Achieving vaccine sovereignty in Africa will require investments at many levels. Over the summer, Gavi, in partnership with the African Union, launched the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), an innovating financing mechanism that will provide up to US$ 1 billion in financial support over the next decade to boost Africa’s vaccine manufacturing capacity, enhance global vaccine markets, and improve Africa’s ability to respond to pandemics and outbreaks. More information on what it will take to build Africa’s vaccine industry can be found here.