GAVI Alliance

GAVI Alliance (also known as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) is a global health partnership committed to saving children's lives and protecting people's health by increasing access to immunisation in poor countries.

History

The GAVI Alliance was launched in 2000 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. It was created in response to stagnating global immunisation rates and widening disparities in vaccine access among countries. The founding partners include UNICEF, WHO, the World Bank, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Mission

The mission of the GAVI Alliance is to save children's lives and protect people's health by increasing access to immunisation in poor countries. This is achieved through a unique public-private partnership model that brings together developing country and donor governments, the WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry, technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other private sector partners.

Funding

The GAVI Alliance is funded by governments (both donor and developing country), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, other private sector contributions, and innovative financing mechanisms such as the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) and the Advance Market Commitment (AMC).

Impact

Since its inception, the GAVI Alliance has helped immunise over 822 million children in more than 77 countries, preventing more than 14 million future deaths. It has also contributed to the strengthening of health systems and immunisation services in these countries.

Criticism

Despite its successes, the GAVI Alliance has faced criticism. Some argue that its focus on new and underused vaccines may divert resources away from basic health services. Others question the sustainability of its funding model.

See also

• Vaccine
• Immunisation
• World Health Organization
• UNICEF
• World Bank
• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation