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Geneva, 8 November 2016 - The primary focus of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is to help governments of the world’s poorest countries protect their children with life-saving vaccines. All Gavi support is provided at the request of and in partnership with country governments, as is the case in Yemen.
It is precisely because of this model that the Alliance, and especially its partners the World Health Organization and UNICEF, has been able to help improve access to vaccines for the world’s poorest and most marginalised children in the most fragile countries around the world.
Gavi support relies upon funding from donor governments, foundations and private sector organisations. Since October 2016 Gavi’s list of donors has included the government of Saudi Arabia after a US$ 25 million contribution.
This multi-year contribution, pledged in 2014, will fund provision of pentavalent, pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines across the whole of Yemen, improving access to vaccines for children both inside the conflict zone and throughout the rest of the country.
It is only by maintaining an impartial, independent and non-partisan position that the Alliance, and especially its partners the World Health Organization and UNICEF, has been able to help ensure that childhood immunisation coverage in Yemen has remained relatively high despite the conflict, thereby saving lives.
Our focus remains on ensuring that all children in Yemen receive life-saving vaccines despite the ongoing conflict.