GAVI - The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization

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Canada Announces CAD$ 30 Million Five-Year Grant to The Vaccine Fund[ vaccine_fund_logo_small ]

OTTAWA, 1 May 2003 - Underscoring the commitment of the people of Canada to bolster childhood immunization in the world’s poorest countries, the Canadian government today announced a CAD$30 million grant (USD $21 million) to The Vaccine Fund over five years. This grant adds to its previous contribution of CAD$ 1.8 million to The Vaccine Fund in 2002.

“I’m very grateful for the Canadian government’s and Minister Whelan’s leadership on behalf of children and for its continued significant support of The Vaccine Fund’s mission to ensure that every child, everywhere has access to lifesaving vaccines. Canada’s contribution will help close the unjust immunization gap that exists between children in developing and industrialized countries,” said Jacques-François Martin, president of The Vaccine Fund.

"Canada is making a difference for the world's children through its leadership and support of immunization programs and we will continue to play our part in this fight against vaccine-preventable diseases," said Susan Whelan, Minister for International Cooperation responsible for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Canada’s contribution adds to the growing list of commitments The Vaccine Fund has received from the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and France. This is in addition to support The Vaccine Fund has received from the private sector, adding to its start-up grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Vaccine Fund, the financing arm of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), raises new resources and channels them to 75 of the world’s poorest countries.

GAVI is a public-private partnership dedicated to increase children’s access to vaccines in poor countries. The Alliance includes representatives from the World Health Organization, UNICEF, non-governmental organizations, pharmaceutical community and philanthropic institutions such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Working in partnership with developing country governments, GAVI and The Vaccine Fund apply a strict business strategy to help strengthen the infrastructure of to guarantee basic and under-used vaccines directly reach the children in need and are correctly stored and administered effectively.

Together, GAVI and The Vaccine Fund have made five-year commitments worth more than $900 million to a total of 64 countries and have provided more than 33 countries with the Hepatitis B vaccine; seven countries with protection against Hib; and seven with vaccines to prevent yellow fever.

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