World leaders recognise access to immunisation as critical to the health and well-being of women and children

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Credit: European Union

Brussels, 5 June 2014 - G7 leaders have officially recognised the impact of the GAVI Alliance and called on donors to support the Alliance’s efforts to expand access to vaccines to an additional 300 million children between 2016 and 2020.

The leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission reaffirmed their commitment to support life-saving vaccines in an official statement issued at the conclusion of yesterday’s meeting in Brussels.

“We recognise the impact of the GAVI Alliance and welcome its efforts to expand access to vaccines to an additional 300 million children during 2016-2020. We welcome Germany’s offer to host the second replenishment in early 2015, reaffirm our commitment, and call on other public and private donors to contribute to the replenishment of the GAVI Alliance,” the members of the G7 said in a statement.

Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of the GAVI Alliance, welcomed the G7 support. “I am delighted world leaders recognise the impact of the GAVI Alliance,” said Dr Berkley. “Immunisation is critical to improving the health of women and children across the world. Healthier women and children lead to wealthier more productive communities. With renewed support, we can help save an additional five to six million lives by 2020, expand access and improve equity, and contribute to the healthy future of generations.”

The GAVI Alliance recently published an investment case that demonstrates how donors can support the world’s poorest countries to secure and expand immunisation programmes that protect children against pneumonia and diarrhoea, which are the two largest infectious killers of children, between 2016 and 2020. An additional US$ 7.5 billion investment will support ambitious plans to immunise an additional 300 million children against potentially fatal diseases between 2016 and 2020, and save a further five to six million lives. 

The G7 statement closely follows the Prime Minister of Canada’s "Saving Lives: Within arm's reach" Summit which was held on 28-30 May 2014. The Toronto Statement, issued after the Summit by the Prime Minister Stephen Harper,  "welcomed the 20 May announcement that Germany will host the replenishment meeting and called on all partners to increase their support to the GAVI Alliance, one of the most effective organizations in directly reducing child mortality."

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