Global health funding is facing unprecedented pressure, jeopardizing decades of remarkable progress. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has played a critical role in reducing global child deaths by half—from 9.9 million to 4.9 million since its inception—yet funding cuts threaten to roll back these gains.
Living in fear of Meningitis
35 years ago, I lived in Togo, a small West African nation within what’s known as the Meningitis Belt, a region plagued by devastating meningitis outbreaks. The disease severely sickens children and can lead to deafness, brain damage, or death. Communities there lived in fear, placing roadblocks around villages experiencing outbreaks to avoid the deadly disease. Yet in the U.S. meningitis was rare by the end of the 1990s. Why?
The answer is vaccines. Historically the cost of these scientific miracles has been too expensive for many low-income countries, leaving millions of children vulnerable to diseases that have virtually disappeared from higher-income countries. This gap is precisely what Gavi addresses.
How Gavi makes vaccines affordable
Over the past 25 years, Gavi has made tremendous progress toward achieving a world free from preventable childhood diseases through global collaboration.
Partner countries identify their specific vaccine needs and approach Gavi for support—whether that means addressing gaps beyond routine immunizations (like vaccines for Ebola or HPV-linked cervical cancer), assistance with vaccine purchasing, or tailored technical assistance.
Through rigorous joint planning, detailed forecasting, disease modeling, and customized logistics support—including strengthening cold-chain systems or partnering with humanitarian groups in conflict-affected areas—Gavi ensures vaccines reliably reach children who need them most.
Crucially, Gavi shapes vaccine markets by aggregating demand and providing manufacturers with guaranteed purchase commitments, dramatically reducing the cost of vaccine prices. Since 2001 this approach has cut the cost of routine childhood vaccines by more than half.
Success story: Ending meningitis A
A groundbreaking vaccine
In 2010, Gavi developed MenAfriVac®, the first-ever vaccine created specifically for Africa, targeting meningitis A—responsible for over 80% of meningitis epidemics in the region. Priced at less than US$1.00 per dose, MenAfriVac made protection accessible across the continent.
Rapid rollout, transformative impact
Burkina Faso launched the first MenAfriVac campaign, vaccinating nearly 11 million people in just ten days. Within months, meningitis A had nearly vanished in Burkina Faso. Within a decade, 360 million people across sub-Saharan Africa had received the vaccine, reducing the prevalence of meningitis A by 99% and preventing an estimated million-plus cases.
25 years of progress and partnership
Gavi’s impact extends beyond meningitis. Over the past 25 years, it has supported 637 vaccination campaigns, halved global childhood deaths, and fostered vaccine manufacturing in many low- and middle-income countries. In 2023, all Gavi partner countries fulfilled their vaccine co-financing commitments. Another clear sign of Gavi’s success is the number of countries—19 so far—that have become fully self-financing. Some partner countries, such as Indonesia, have gone on to become donor countries, helping to extend the benefits of lifesaving vaccines to other regions.
Protecting the gains we’ve made
The recent pullback of some donor country financing has presented a challenge for Gavi and the commitment to shared responsibility for vaccine investment. Gavi is one of the best investments donors can make in a healthier, more prosperous future. Every dollar invested in immunization programs through Gavi yields an estimated $54, totaling over US$250 billion in economic benefits to partner countries.
When I returned to Togo in 2014, I saw thousands of people braving the hot sun as they waited in line outside health centers to get vaccinated—a testament to their patience and hope. Today we must match their dedication with sustained global support.
We cannot allow decades of lifesaving progress to erode. Gavi’s continued success depends on reaffirming our collective commitment. By defending and investing in global health funding, we ensure a safer, healthier future for every child.
* The group is an initiative of UNICEF, supported by Gavi, aimed at addressing high rates of avoidable maternal and child mortality, which has been a source of concern over the years.
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