ONE Applauds Obama Administration for Life-saving Vaccines Pledge in London

Washington, D.C. – Sheila Nix, U.S. Executive Director of The ONE Campaign, today issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s pledge to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI):

“Raj Shah’s announcement today that the Obama Administration is committing $450 million over the next three years to GAVI confirms the President’s commitment to help save lives through childhood vaccinations – often called the “best buy” in public health.   The United States’ commitment is a real boost to GAVI’s ongoing efforts to introduce two new vaccines to help prevent pneumonia and diarrhea in infants and children in the developing world.

“This vaccine pledge is another proud moment for the United States in getting lifesaving medicines to the poorest people on the planet. President Obama and his team have stepped up strongly to the challenge of saving 4 million kids by 2015, an audacious but completely achievable goal. “The U.S. pledge is lifesaving, results-focused, cost-effective, and the best of American leadership around the world. Initiatives from the last presidency and the current one are building a lasting bipartisan legacy of better health for the world’s poorest people. We look forward to working with Congress to ensure that, even as they make very difficult budget decisions, initiatives like this one are priorities.”