Lower-Income countries contribute record amounts to own vaccine programs, Gavi finds

SWITZERLAND— A new report from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, reveals encouraging progress in how lower-income countries are funding their own vaccination programs.

In 2024, these countries collectively contributed nearly US$255 million toward immunisation efforts, marking a significant 19% increase from 2023. This rise highlights a growing dedication to country ownership and sustainability in vaccine delivery.

Importantly, 84% of this funding came from domestic sources, up from 79% the previous year.

This shift underscores that many governments are prioritizing immunisation within their national budgets and are committed to building self-sustaining vaccine programs that will eventually no longer rely on Gavi’s support.

Despite facing political and economic challenges, every eligible country met its co-financing obligations in 2024, except those granted waivers due to humanitarian crises.

Even countries experiencing significant difficulties—such as the Central African Republic, Chad, Haiti, and Mali—continued to invest in immunisation, demonstrating resilience and commitment.

Looking ahead, Gavi projects that total co-financing contributions will increase by 22% in 2025, surpassing US$300 million.

Over the next strategic period (2026–2030), low- and middle-income countries are expected to contribute approximately US$4 billion—nearly half of the total costs for vaccination programs supported by Gavi.

This includes about US$2 billion for vaccines that will be fully funded by middle-income countries.

This data was shared during a World Health Assembly side event titled “Investing in Ownership: Sustaining Immunisation for Future Generations,” co-hosted by Gavi and the Government of Côte d’Ivoire.

 The event was attended by health ministers and high-level representatives from 16 Gavi-supported countries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Indonesia, and Zambia, among others.

Côte d’Ivoire has been a strong advocate for sustainable immunisation financing in Africa.

Pierre Dimba, the country’s Minister of Health, Public Hygiene, and Universal Health Coverage, praised Gavi’s unique model that supports countries in gradually achieving greater autonomy as external funding phases out.

He emphasized Côte d’Ivoire’s commitment to helping other nations on similar paths.

At the heart of Gavi’s partnership with supported countries is a co-financing policy that encourages governments to invest in their own vaccine programs by contributing to the cost of doses.

As countries’ economies grow, their contributions increase, helping to expand vaccine budgets and reduce dependence on Gavi over time.

The ultimate goal is for countries to fully finance their immunisation programs independently.

 To date, 19 countries have transitioned out of Gavi support, with some, like India and Indonesia, even becoming donors themselves.

Indonesia’s Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, reflected on his country’s experience as a former Gavi-supported nation.

He highlighted how Gavi’s country-focused approach has transformed Indonesia’s health system and stressed that today’s commitments by countries to finance their own immunisation programs are vital for sustainable health and economic growth.

Indonesia now contributes as a Gavi donor and remains dedicated to supporting ongoing vaccine delivery amid rising infectious disease threats.

While domestic funding is crucial for long-term sustainability, Gavi remains flexible to address specific country challenges.

In 2024, six countries received co-financing waivers due to humanitarian emergencies.

These waivers accounted for only 3.3% of total co-financing, down from 3.8% in 2023, showing that most countries continue to uphold their financial commitments despite difficulties.

Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, praised the alliance’s focus on sustainability and country ownership, noting the record levels of domestic contributions from lower-income countries.

She emphasized that vaccination anywhere protects people everywhere and thanked both Gavi-supported countries and donors for their vital roles in global health security.

Looking forward, Gavi aims to raise at least US$9 billion from donors to support its most ambitious strategy yet, aiming to protect more people against more diseases faster than ever before.

Between 2026 and 2030, Gavi will also invest heavily in global vaccine stockpiles, pandemic preparedness, and outbreak prevention and response, helping to safeguard the world from infectious disease threats.

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