GAVI Alliance

With Novartis staying away from pro bono giveaways of its vaccination and social health products, GAVI's ten years of existence have a special proud moment for it. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization including WHO , UNICEF and the Gates Foundation was launched at the WEF in January 2000

When GAVI was publicly launched at the World Economic Forum in January 2000, immunisation rates in the world’s poorest countries were in decline and there was slow progress in introducing new vaccines against Hepatitis B and Yellow Fever.

Over the past 10 years, the Alliance has played a catalytic role in reversing these trends. Drawing on the specialized skills and knowledge of the leading public and private stakeholders in immunisation, from UNICEF and WHO to the Vaccine Industry and the World Bank, GAVI has:

- Funded the delivery of life-saving vaccines to 250 million children
- Averted five million future deaths
- Helped push immunisation rates in poor counties to an unprecedented 80% average
- Reduced the time lag between introducing new vaccines like Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and Hepatitis B, into poorer countries

In Nov 2006, the International Finance Facility for Immunizations issued the first vaccine bonds and claim to serve billions thru innovative financing and not millions.