Statement by Bill Gates on the Launch of the International Finance Facility for Immunization

SEATTLE – Bill Gates issued the following statement in response to today’s announcement that the governments of the U.K., France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden have pledged commitments to fund a $4 billion International Finance Facility for Immunization (IFFIm), which will support childhood vaccine programs through the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI):

“The commitments announced today provide a major boost to GAVI’s work to ensure that all children—no matter where they are born—have access to lifesaving vaccines. I commend the U.K., France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden for their generosity, and Gordon Brown for his tireless work to make this announcement possible.”

“Melinda and I believe that supporting GAVI is the best investment we’ve ever made. In just five years, GAVI has immunized tens of millions of children in the developing world, and saved hundreds of thousands of lives—that’s extraordinary progress.

“The IFFIm will provide major new resources for GAVI to extend the reach of its programs. These funds are urgently needed—it’s unacceptable that each year, 27 million children go without immunizations that are taken for granted in rich countries.

“The IFFIm is a bold and innovative approach to financing critical global health programs. The facility will make additional funds available more quickly to strengthen immunization systems, and make aid more stable and predictable over time. I hope that other donor governments will come on board to support the IFFIm.”