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Brussels, 25 June 2025 . In a powerful show of international solidarity, world leaders, philanthropic organizations, and development banks gathered in Brussels. Vaccine manufacturers and private sector partners were also present for the Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Replenishment Summit. The one-day high-level event ushered in a new era of support for Gavi’s sixth strategic period, dubbed Gavi 6.0, securing a wave of financial and institutional commitments aimed at protecting half a billion children from preventable diseases.
A Critical Step Toward Gavi 6.0: Funding and Global Vision
The summit was held under the theme of equitable access to vaccines and pandemic preparedness. It marked a turning point in global immunization efforts. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, confirmed that commitments made during the summit significantly advance the organization. They move it closer to securing the resources needed to implement its Gavi 6.0 strategy (2026–2030). This ambitious plan aims to:
- Immunize 500 million children in lower-income countries,
- Avert between 8 to 9 million future deaths,
- Strengthen outbreak response mechanisms against diseases such as cholera, Ebola, and Mpox through robust vaccine stockpiles,
- And unlock an estimated US$ 100 billion in economic benefits across supported countries.
According to Gavi, the total funding secured since the campaign’s launch in June 2024 includes a mix of:
- New pledges to Gavi 6.0,
- Transfers from the remaining balances in the Pandemic Vaccine Pool,
- Pre-existing commitments made to the International Financing Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm),
- Income generated from investment interest, and
- An expected carry-forward from Gavi’s current strategic period.
These combined financing approaches are designed to ensure both flexibility and resilience in Gavi’s long-term funding strategy.
Historic Commitments from Leading Donors
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation led the donor announcements with a US$ 1.6 billion pledge, one of its largest single commitments to the Alliance. This contribution underscores the Foundation’s enduring commitment to global immunization equity and child survival as echoed in the words of the Foundation’s Chairperson.
“In a constrained budget environment, it’s even more important to focus aid funding on the investments that really work. And Gavi is exactly that. I don’t know of anything with a higher impact per dollar in terms of saving and improving lives. Gavi is one of the best investments I’ve ever made—and one of the best investments countries can make today in the world’s future.” -Bill Gates
Team Europe is another major donor bloc. It includes the European Commission and its Member States. Together, they collectively pledged more than EUR 2 billion. This made them the largest donor group to Gavi. Within this bloc, the European Commission pledged EUR 360 million directly to Gavi’s core mission. In his statement the President of the European Commission remarked:
“Investing in health is investing in our shared future. Our work with Gavi saves lives. For over 20 years, we have stood side by side, with the European Union contributing over EUR 3.2 billion to vaccinate more than 1 billion children against deadly diseases. But millions still need this vital protection. Today, Team Europe is pledging more than EUR 2 billion. The EU remains committed to this mission so that children across the world are safer, healthier and stronger. This is global solidarity in action.” – Ursula von der Leyen
The European Investment Bank (EIB) announced an extension of its EUR 1 billion liquidity facility. This extension complements the current efforts. The facility can be accessed by any donor to accelerate or scale their pledge. The EIB’s innovative approach facilitates quicker disbursement of funds. It also acts as a financial bridge for donors looking to frontload their contributions.
Team Europe made a significant commitment of nearly EUR 800 million to Gavi’s African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA). This is a strategic initiative aimed at bolstering local vaccine production capacity across the African continent. This support aligns with Africa’s long-term goal of manufacturing 60% of its vaccines locally by 2040. It addresses equity. It enhances supply chain resilience. It improves pandemic readiness.
Complementary Financing and Innovations
Beyond traditional donor pledges, the summit also catalyzed US$ 4.5 billion in complementary financing from multilateral development finance institutions. This includes creative co-financing models and catalytic funds. These funds are intended to support immunization delivery infrastructure, health system integration, and innovation at scale.
In addition, Gavi introduced a new Innovation Scale-Up Fund to support transformative ideas in immunization delivery systems. A US$ 40 million anchor commitment has already been made toward this fund. It will provide rapid capital for scaling proven innovations in cold chain logistics. The fund also supports digital health integration and data-driven outreach programs.
Global Cooperation in Action
In her remarks, Gavi CEO Dr. Sania Nishtar hailed the summit as a historic moment for global health cooperation.
“I have been humbled by the support shown to Gavi today. As Gavi enters a new strategic period, we will see radical change in the way we support countries. We will also converge with our partners at the last mile. We can do so with confidence because our donors stand with us. Gavi countries, the private sector, and all other stakeholders also stand with us. Together, we are building a healthier, more prosperous future.”
Leaders across continents emphasized that immunization remains one of the most effective investments in health and economic development. The replenishment of Gavi’s funding signals strong donor confidence. It also reflects growing urgency to prevent the backsliding of immunization coverage. This issue has been exacerbated by COVID-19 and global crises.
Looking Ahead
The success of this replenishment is expected to supercharge Gavi’s preparations for the Gavi 6.0 rollout. Health systems across the globe are still recovering from pandemic disruptions. This renewed support could not have come at a more critical time.
The summit concluded with a renewed call. Countries and private entities that have not yet pledged were urged to step up to join the global movement. The President of the European Council highlighted an important point to strengthen commitment.
“Todays summit is a powerful reminder that global health security is a shared responsibility.” Immunization is one of its strongest foundations. We have to ensure that every person, everywhere, has access to vaccines.” António Costa
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