The Bill Gates Foundation has announced a commitment of $1.6 billion over the next five years to help purchase vaccines that protect children in poor countries from deadly diseases.
According to a report by the global news agency Reuters, the Gates Foundation stated on Tuesday that it will provide $1.6 billion in funding to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Gavi is a public-private partnership that helps procure vaccines for the world’s poorest children. It works with governments to ensure access to life-saving vaccines against diseases such as measles and diphtheria.
In a statement, Bill Gates, the foundation’s chairman, said that child mortality rates around the world are at risk of rising this year due to large-scale cuts in international aid. He added that supporting Gavi is one of the most effective ways to prevent this crisis.
“We cannot leave behind a legacy for our generation where we looked the other way while millions of poor children died of preventable diseases,” Gates said.
He further added, “Today, the world has affordable, effective, and proven medical tools that save lives. Wealthy nations must fully fund organizations like Gavi and the Global Fund that deliver these tools to those who need them the most.”
Gavi aims to raise $9 billion to fund its vaccine efforts from 2026 to 2030. A fundraising conference is being held on Wednesday in Brussels, co-hosted by the European Union and the Gates Foundation.
It is worth noting that the Trump administration had previously indicated that it might halt its annual contribution of around $300 million to Gavi.
