With the covid vaccine, a new malaria vaccine, and a tuberculosis vaccine in development, we are seeing a renaissance in disease prevention. But we squander their lifesaving power if the vaccines never reach communities that need them most. In 2022, 4.9 million children under the age of 5 died due mostly to preventable health problems. As a pediatrician, I believe preventative care is fundamental to quality pediatric care. Eliminating vaccine-preventable childhood diseases is emblematic of this.
There is a proven strategy to fix this. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is an international partnership that provides essential supports for locally-led vaccine programs worldwide. Since its inception, Gavi has helped vaccinate over 1 billion children around the world, saving 17.3 million lives.
World leaders are coming together to reinvest in Gavi this year. To help set the tone for the global community, I urge Congress and the Biden administration to make a bold, multiyear pledge for Gavi of $1.4 billion over the next four years.
World leaders will meet in France on June 20 to discuss the next Gavi replenishment.
We ask readers to call Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and urge them to cosponsor the bipartisan Senate resolution (S.Res. 684). Also, call their representative to urge him or her to cosponsor the bipartisan House resolution (H.Res 1286).
This will galvanize political will on the issue and put positive pressure on the administration to show up with the kind of pledge truly needed.
Michael and Leslie Boyer
Bremerton
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