My name is Mohamed Khalil Larhrib. I’m one of the newest members of the ONE team, and I want to share some of my personal motivations in our fight to ensure Canada invests our fair share in Gavi!
In Morocco, where I come from, people say, “Health is everything.” I saw this firsthand as a child, watching mothers wait in long lines at vaccination centers, holding their infants close, determined to protect them. That image stayed with me. Years later, I heard a heartbreaking story: a friend’s best friend had died because they couldn’t access a simple vaccine. This should never happen.
Organizations like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, save millions of lives every year. But Gavi needs continued investment to do its work. Canada’s commitment to global vaccination programs matters, because it means more children will grow up healthy, go to school, and build stronger futures.
At some point, I questioned whether health was really the most important thing. Wouldn’t economic opportunity matter more? But the truth is, without health, opportunity doesn’t exist. No one can go to school, earn a living, or escape poverty if they’re too sick to survive. Vaccines are one of the most powerful tools we have—not just to save lives, but to create stability, growth, and opportunity. Investing in vaccines isn’t charity. It’s smart policy.
I know this because I’ve seen what happens when vaccines are available, and when they aren’t. Gavi ensures that millions of children in low-income countries receive life-saving vaccines, preventing diseases that could otherwise trap families in a cycle of sickness and poverty. It helps build stronger health systems, respond to outbreaks, and make sure no one is left behind. But to keep doing this, Gavi needs resources.
Canada has stepped up before, and it must step up again. By investing in Gavi, Canada is not just helping children survive—it’s helping entire nations thrive. This is about global health security, economic growth, and a better future for all of us.
Thank you, Canada, for leading the way.
If You Want to Dive Deeper, Keep Reading Below
The Case for Investing in Gavi
Vaccines are one of the most cost-effective health interventions in history. Since its creation in 2000, Gavi has helped vaccinate more than 1 billion children, preventing over 17 million deaths. The benefits of investing in vaccines extend far beyond individual health—they create stronger societies and more resilient economies.
1. Vaccines Save Lives and Prevent Suffering
Gavi’s mission is simple: to ensure that people in the world’s poorest countries have access to life-saving vaccines. Diseases like measles, polio, and pneumonia, which have been virtually eliminated in wealthier nations, still claim millions of lives elsewhere. Immunization campaigns supported by Gavi are the frontline defense against these preventable tragedies.
2. Vaccination Strengthens Global Health Security
Investing in Gavi is not just about humanitarian aid—it’s about global stability and security. The COVID-19 pandemic showed us how fast infectious diseases can spread and disrupt economies worldwide. By strengthening immunization systems in lower-income countries, Gavi helps detect and contain outbreaks before they become global threats.
3. Economic Returns: Investing in Vaccines Pays Off
For every $1 invested in vaccines, up to $54 is saved in healthcare costs, lost wages, and productivity. When children are vaccinated, they grow up healthier, stay in school longer, and contribute more to their economies. Gavi’s work reduces the economic burden of disease, allowing countries to reinvest in education, infrastructure, and job creation.
4. Gavi’s Market-Shaping Power Lowers Costs for Everyone
Gavi partners with vaccine manufacturers to negotiate lower prices, expand production, and ensure stable supply chains. This benefits not only low-income countries but also middle-income nations and global health systems as a whole. By funding Gavi, donors like Canada are helping drive down vaccine costs worldwide.
5. Canada’s Role: A Track Record of Leadership
Canada has long been a champion of global health, playing a critical role in funding immunization programs. In 2020, Canada pledged $600 million to Gavi, helping the alliance continue its life-saving work. Renewing and increasing this commitment will ensure that millions more children receive essential vaccines—giving them a chance at a healthier, more prosperous future.
Investing in Gavi is not just the right thing to do—it’s the smart thing to do. It saves lives, protects economies, and strengthens global security. Canada’s continued leadership in global immunization efforts will help shape a healthier, more resilient world for generations to come.
Mohamed Khalil Larhrib is the Policy & Government Relations Coordinator at ONE in Canada.