With the COVID vaccine, a new malaria vaccine, and a tuberculosis vaccine in development, we are seeing a renaissance in disease prevention. But we squander their life-saving power if the vaccines never reach communities that need them most.
In 2022, 4.9 million children under the age of 5 died due mostly to preventable health problems like diarrhea, pneumonia and measles.
But there is a proven strategy to fix this. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is an international partnership that provides essential support for locally-led vaccine programs worldwide. Since its inception, Gavi has helped vaccinate over 1 billion children around the world, saving 17.3 million lives.
World leaders are coming together to reinvest in Gavi this year. To help set the tone for the global community, I urge Congress and the Biden administration to make a bold, multi-year pledge for Gavi of no less than $1.4 billion over the next four years. Let’s make sure our medical innovations are actually put to work preventing the diseases they aim to end.
Preston Waldrop, Salt Lake City