Chancellor’s message of support backs Vaccine Alliance’s plans to immunise
300 million additional children

Angela Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Credit: Martin Rulsch, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Geneva, 25 November 2014 - German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on donors to support Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance in its aim to save five to six million lives by helping immunise 300 million children between 2016 and 2020. In a message of support published today, the Chancellor also commended Gavi on its clear, measurable and positive impact.

Germany will host the Gavi replenishment conference in January 2015 in Berlin. The conference will be held under Germany’s G7 presidency and will enjoy the patronage of Chancellor Merkel.

In her message to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Chancellor Merkel said:

"Immunisation is one of the best investments that a country can make on behalf of its children. It has a direct and positive impact on people’s lives. In Germany, we are able to provide our children with access to live-saving vaccinations, however, in many developing countries this is simply not the case. That is why we must support organisations such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in order to ensure that all children have access to life-saving vaccinations – regardless of where they live."

"In challenging economic times it is more important than ever that our investments in international development have a clear, measurable and positive effect. Such evident success is something enjoyed by Gavi, both in terms of the number of children it has vaccinated and the number of lives saved as a result."

"The key to Gavi’s success lies in the public-private partnership model, which marries the expertise of leading health organisations with the innovative approaches and experience of the private sector. 60 percent of children born each year live in countries supported by Gavi. The organisation is thus in a unique position – it can exert a long-term influence on the vaccine market and obtain affordable prices for the poorest countries in our world. In addition to this, the importance that Gavi attributes to accountability, transparency and sustainability make the Vaccine Alliance an organisation particularly worthy of donors’ support."

"I am therefore delighted that the Gavi donor conference will be taking place in Berlin, within the framework of the German G7 Presidency, next January. The event will bring together donors, developing countries, vaccination manufacturers, civil-society organisations and other partners who are united in the aim of protecting children through immunisation. Furthermore, it will offer them the chance to accelerate access to immunisation in developing countries. Together, we can support the Gavi Vaccine Alliance in its endeavour to vaccinate 300 million children between 2016 and 2020, thus helping to save lives. Together, we can succeed in reaching all children in our world and giving them the chance to live a healthy life."

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