A powerful shot in the arm for Africa’s fight against vaccine-preventable diseases has arrived with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, pledging $1.8 billion. This significant investment will fuel a three-pronged approach: boosting local vaccine manufacturing, catching up missed vaccinations, and strengthening pandemic preparedness.
The decision, announced last week at the Gavi Board meeting in Accra, Ghana, is a timely response to worrying trends. Sub-Saharan Africa has seen immunization coverage stall, with the number of unvaccinated children rising from 6.2 million in 2019 to 7.8 million in 2022. This translates to a cumulative 2.8 million “zero-dose” children who have never received any routine vaccinations.
To address this critical gap and build self-reliance, Gavi is establishing the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA). This $1 billion financing instrument will empower African manufacturers to produce vaccines locally, bridging the equity gaps exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic laid bare the vital role of vaccination as a public health shield,” says Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Gavi’s decision is a game-changer, saving lives and livelihoods.”
The WHO Africa Regional Office further welcomes Gavi’s commitment to translating pandemic lessons into concrete action. A $500 million investment will ensure readily available funds for future health emergencies.
These bold steps align with the vision outlined in WHO Africa’s “Ending Disease in Africa: vision, strategies and Special Initiatives, 2023-2030” document. This comprehensive roadmap prioritizes accelerating immunization uptake across the continent.
WHO has already been working with African countries to develop innovative plans to reach children who missed routine vaccinations. This effort dovetails seamlessly with Gavi’s focus on protecting the next generation, particularly “zero-dose” children, by strengthening regional and national capacities for immunization, diagnostics, and therapeutics.
“For us at WHO, serving a billion people across 47 African nations, we are excited to deepen our collaboration with Gavi, Africa CDC, and other partners to turn this commitment into tangible results for ending diseases in Africa,” Dr. Moeti concludes.
With Gavi’s $1.8 billion shot of confidence, Africa is poised to vaccinate its way towards a healthier, more resilient future.