Merkel’s ‘vaccine summit’ raises $7.5 million

At a donor conference held in Berlin in January 2015, the international vaccine alliance GAVI reached its goal of raising around €6.6 billion ($7.5 billion) to immunise around 300 million children in developing countries by 2020.

The main organiser and sponsor of the conference, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, pledged €600 million to the alliance – almost €200 million more than was previously announced.

The organisations Doctors without Borders and Oxfam welcomed the GAVI pledges, but called for reforms within the vaccine alliance. They accused vaccination producers of having too much influence on GAVI, which is a public-private partnership.

ESO: Background information: EU steps up its efforts to improve the health of millions in developing countries http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-steps-up-its-efforts-to-improve-the-health-of-millions-in-developing-countries/

Website: GAVI Alliance http://www.gavi.org/

Reuters, 26.01.15: Pfizer cuts vaccine price for poor as GAVI group seeks $7.5 billion http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/26/us-health-vaccines-price-idUSKBN0KZ2FX20150126

Wall Street Journal, 26.01.15: U.S. to Give $1 Billion to Fund Immunizations http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-to-give-1-billion-to-fund-immunizations-in-developing-countries-1422297129

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