Organizations like Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance<\/strong>, save millions of lives every year. But Gavi needs continued investment to do its work. Canada\u2019s commitment to global vaccination programs matters, because it means more children will grow up healthy, go to school, and build stronger futures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At some point, I questioned whether health was really the most important thing. Wouldn\u2019t economic opportunity matter more? But the truth is, without health, opportunity doesn\u2019t exist. No one can go to school, earn a living, or escape poverty if they\u2019re too sick to survive.<\/strong> Vaccines are one of the most powerful tools we have\u2014not just to save lives, but to create stability, growth, and opportunity. Investing in vaccines isn\u2019t charity. It\u2019s smart policy.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I know this because I\u2019ve seen what happens when vaccines are available, and when they aren\u2019t. 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.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Canada has stepped up before, and it must step up again. By investing in Gavi, Canada is not just helping children survive\u2014it\u2019s helping entire nations thrive.<\/strong> This is about global health security, economic growth, and a better future for all of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thank you, Canada, for leading the way.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If You Want to Dive Deeper, Keep Reading Below<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Case for Investing in Gavi<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/strong>, preventing over 17 million deaths. The benefits of investing in vaccines extend far beyond individual health\u2014they create stronger societies and more resilient economies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Vaccines Save Lives and Prevent Suffering<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Gavi\u2019s mission is simple: to ensure that people in the world\u2019s poorest countries have access to life-saving vaccines.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Vaccination Strengthens Global Health Security<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Investing in Gavi is not just about humanitarian aid\u2014it\u2019s about global stability and security.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Economic Returns: Investing in Vaccines Pays Off<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For every $1 invested in vaccines, up to $54 is saved<\/strong> 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\u2019s work reduces the economic burden of disease, allowing countries to reinvest in education, infrastructure, and job creation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Gavi\u2019s Market-Shaping Power Lowers Costs for Everyone<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Gavi partners with vaccine manufacturers to negotiate lower prices, expand production, and ensure stable supply chains.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Canada\u2019s Role: A Track Record of Leadership<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 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<\/strong>, helping the alliance continue its life-saving work. Renewing and increasing this commitment will ensure that millions more children receive essential vaccines\u2014giving them a chance at a healthier, more prosperous future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Investing in Gavi is not just the right thing to do\u2014it\u2019s the smart thing to do. It saves lives, protects economies, and strengthens global security.<\/strong> Canada\u2019s continued leadership in global immunization efforts will help shape a healthier, more resilient world for generations to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mohamed Khalil Larhrib is the Policy & Government Relations Coordinator at ONE in Canada.<\/p>\n My name is Mohamed Khalil Larhrib. I\u2019m 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, \u201cHealth is everything.\u201d I saw this firsthand as a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":163424,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"162300,162261,162275,162278,162272,162279","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[150],"tags":[191,102,192,201],"topic":[202,141],"contributor":[203],"one_content_audience":[],"one_content_type":[],"one_content_tone":[],"class_list":["post-163423","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campaign-update","tag-africa","tag-canada","tag-gavi","tag-vaccines","topic-africa","topic-health","contributor-mohamed-khalil-larhrib"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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