We are pleased to announce that a recording of our July Conference Call is now available to download. Click here to listen again to the call.
The call, titled ‘A child’s life saved every 40 seconds – what comes next for vaccines’ discusses the need to ensure both continued funding for the GAVI alliance and for increased fuding fro research and development into new vaccines for the diseases of poverty (TB, HIV, Malaria) in the upcoming EU Mulitiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The MFF is the financial framework which sets the overall budget for the European Commission. Our guest speaker on the call was Nina Schwalbe, the managing director of policy and performance at GAVI Alliance. Nina has over 20 years of experience in international health. Prior to joining GAVI in 2008, Nina directed the policy department at the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development, a product development partnership focused on the development of medicines for tuberculosis. For seven years she also directed the Soros’ Foundations global public health programme, and worked on critical issues such as strengthening health systems, TB, HIV/AIDS, and programs aimed at vulnerable populations.
Following the hugely successful pledging conference for GAVI which raised $4.3 billion for vaccinations in poor countries, it is crucial that we ask our MEPs to push for the European Commission to contribute further to saving children’s lives by supporting GAVI over the period of 2014-2020 and to build on its success through EU funding for research into new vaccines. Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent childhood deaths, serious illness and permanent disability. There remain several major killers against which we don’t yet have an effective vaccine, including Malaria and HIV/AIDS, both of which affect large numbers of children. A Malaria vaccine is expected within the next few years and we urgently need better vaccines to help prevent the 1.7 million annual deaths from TB. Further long-term funding for vaccine research and development is essential.
We need to advocate now for resources to be built into the EC’s plans for 2014-2020. There are calls for the EC to provide €50 million per year during 2014-2020 to GAVI.
It is crucial that the negotiations take into account the urgent need to reduce the huge number of children around the world dying from preventable diseases. We would strongly encourage you to take action by clicking here. Don’t hesitate to contact us in the office if you have any questions on writing your letters!
Image courtesy of Number 10. It shows heads of state and ministers at the GAVI pledging conference
