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Financing Immunization
Identifying long-term financing options
The challenge: sustainable
sources of funds
In most developing countries, immunization programmes
are financed and delivered largely through the public sector.
While some countries are able to finance most of their essential
national health needs, and can accord immunization a high
priority, many rely heavily on external donors. This dependence
on donors can result in inconsistent levels of funding from
one year to the next, depending on donor priorities and programming.
In addition to the problem of ensuring funding
for immunization with traditional vaccines such as polio,
measles, and diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP), many
countries are concerned how they will be able to routinely
mobilize sufficient funds to expand their programs both to
reach more children and to include new and improved vaccines.
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Grandmother
and granddaughter: the challenge for governments is to ensure
a stable health system that can immunize generation after generation |
The Task Forces contribution
The GAVI Financing Task Force is committed to identifying
options and assessing strategies, which will improve the capacity
of governments, donors, development banks and others to mobilize
funds required to finance the improvement and expansion of national
immunization programmes.
Immunization, as one of the most cost-effective interventions
known, is a critical component of a well-functioning health system.
Sustainable financing for immunization must be considered within
the context of overall health sector and national budgets.
The Vaccine
Fund is a new source of support for countries with a GNP/capita
of less than or equal to $1000. The Vaccine Funds current
budget allows for five years of support (although countries may
elect to spread this support over a longer term). It is fully anticipated
that successful use of the Vaccine Funds resources will pave
the way for a replenishment of the Vaccine Fund, permitting countries
to introduce the next generation of life-saving vaccines to their
programmes.
In order to encourage a gradual assumption of the
financial responsibility for programme improvements, countries that
receive funds for new vaccines or to improve their vaccine delivery
systems through the Vaccine Fund are
expected to provide mid-term plans for financial sustainability
to the GAVI Board. These plans, which are to be signed off by the
Ministry of Finance, will detail the long-term financial sustainability
strategies for the countrys immunization programme when initial
support from the Vaccine Fund ceases. Countries with approved plans will
be eligible to receive their next installment of Vaccine Fund support. The
FTF is responsible for the development of guidelines, indicators,
and targets for countries to consider when drafting their financial
sustainability plans.
Resources
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Draft paper
Financial sustainability of childhood immunization: issues
and options. Ruth Levine, Magdalene Rosenmöller and Peyvand
Khaleghian The World Bank, Washington DC. April 2001:
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This paper is intended to:
(I) clarify the critical issues affecting the sustainability
of immunization financing in developing countries;
(II) provide the framework for subsequent deliberations
by the GAVI Board regarding preferred mechanisms for investment
by all the GAVI partners to encourage sustainable financing;
and
(III) explore a range of possible financial sustainability
indicators and targets for countries eligible to receive
support from the Vaccine Fund.
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Issues in immunization finance: background
papers and case studies:
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- Costs and financing of immunization programmes: findings
of four case studies
- Case study on the costs and financing of immunization
services in Bangladesh
- Case study on the costs and financing of immunization
services in Cote dIvoire
- Case study on the costs and financing of immunization
services in Morocco
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