Global Affairs Canada pledged $675 million over the next five years to help protect children worldwide from infectious diseases, the government announced at a major vaccine conference in Brussels this week. Secretary of State Randeep Sarai made the commitment at the GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance‘s pledging conference on June 25. Countries promised funding for the Vaccine Alliance’s work through 2030. Gavi provides shots for more than half the children born worldwide each year. This saves millions from diseases like HPV, malaria, measles and polio.
Vaccines are one of the world’s most effective health tools, no matter where a child lives. Canada’s money will help Gavi provide life-saving vaccines to at least 500 million more children and prevent over 8 million deaths. The funding will also help protect the world against future pandemics and disease outbreaks while strengthening health systems around the globe.
Gavi’s work is expected to bring more than $100 billion in economic benefits to supported countries over the next five years. The money will also support new developments, including the rollout of a new malaria vaccine. It will fund practical solutions like installing more than 20,000 solar-powered fridges and freezers to keep life-saving doses cold in remote areas.
At the conference, Sarai met with key leaders in global health, including WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, and Bill Gates. They talked about the future of global health efforts and how to keep working together to protect progress made so far.
Sarai also said Canada remains committed to Gavi and to making vaccines more accessible as a cornerstone of global health security.
