One in five children in Gavi-supported countries do not receive a full course of the most basic vaccines. One reason for this gap is that an increasing number of people live under the radar. Globally, one in every four children under the age of five lack any proof of identification . Without a reliable record that can be uniquely linked to each child, it is difficult to determine the care he or she needs. The latest digital technologies can provide more effective ways of registering births, issuing proof of identity and authenticating identities to allow access to essential health services. This is especially important for girls, who are more likely to suffer the repercussions of not being registered. In 2018, through INFUSE, Gavi is calling for innovations that leverage new technologies to modernize the process of identifying and registering the children who are most in need of life-saving vaccines.
From the initial 200 innovations, 10 participated in the INFUSE workshop and 4 were selected to receive direct Gavi and partner support.
1 Source: UNICEF Data: Child Protection: Birth Registration. United Nations Children's Fund, 2017; available from https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/birth-registration/.