Source: Lara Adejoro

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced a renewed commitment of $1.6 billion over the next five years to support Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in a move aimed at expanding global access to essential vaccines and preventing deadly diseases among vulnerable populations.

“For the first time in decades, the number of kids dying around the world will likely go up this year instead of down because of massive cuts to foreign aid. That is a tragedy,” said Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation. “Fully funding Gavi is the single most powerful step we can take to stop it.”

Why This Matters

The pledge, made public on Tuesday via the Foundation’s official website, comes ahead of the Global Summit on Health & Prosperity through Immunisation, held June 25 in Brussels. The summit, co-hosted by the European Union and the Gates Foundation, is a key fundraising event for Gavi, as international development budgets shrink and political priorities shift globally.

Foreign aid cuts this year have put critical global health gains at risk. Gavi, which has vaccinated more than 1.1 billion children in 78 low-income countries since its inception 25 years ago, has helped cut child mortality by half, preventing an estimated 19 million deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, pneumonia, and diarrhoea.

Yet challenges persist. According to the Foundation, one in five children still lack access to essential vaccines, and outbreaks of diseases like measles and meningitis are resurging.

Gavi’s Unique Model: Empowering Local Ownership

Gavi operates on a co-financing model, encouraging long-term sustainability by gradually increasing country contributions to immunisation programmes as their economies grow. Since 2000, 19 countries have “graduated” from Gavi support and now self-finance their vaccine initiatives.

“Gavi’s model is unique in how it supports countries to build strong, self-sustaining immunisation systems,” said Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Indonesia’s Minister of Health.
“Indonesia’s journey from a Gavi-supported country to a donor is a testament to what’s possible through true partnership.”

Gates Foundation: Longstanding Supporter of Vaccines

This new pledge brings the Gates Foundation’s total investment in Gavi to $7.7 billion, making it the foundation’s largest single grantee. Since 2000, the foundation has committed over $30.6 billion to vaccines globally—funding vaccine research, development, and equitable distribution.

The announcement also builds on the Foundation’s broader 25th anniversary commitment to spend $200 billion over the next 20 years to tackle pressing global challenges, including:

• Ending preventable deaths of mothers and babies
• Preventing deadly infectious diseases for future generations
• Lifting millions out of poverty through expanded opportunity

The Foundation also continues to focus on gender equality, U.S. education, digital public infrastructure, and the ethical application of artificial intelligence in sectors such as health, education, and agriculture.