Gates Foundation Commits $1.6 Billion to Gavi to Save Children’s Lives
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced a major new commitment: $1.6 billion will be provided over the next five years to support Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
This investment comes at a time when global health systems are under intense pressure. Many children in the world’s poorest countries still lack access to vaccines that could save their lives. Diseases like measles, pneumonia, and polio remain threats—despite being easily preventable.
The foundation’s funding is aimed at changing that. With this support, Gavi will be able to continue its mission of delivering vaccines to low-income countries, helping millions of children live longer, healthier lives.
The announcement was made in a statement posted on the Gates Foundation’s official website on Tuesday. In it, the foundation stressed the urgency of the moment. Funding for global health programs has dropped significantly in recent years, risking the progress made in child survival over the past two decades.
By backing Gavi, the Gates Foundation hopes to strengthen immunization efforts, support struggling health systems, and encourage other nations to do the same.
This is not just about money—it’s about saving lives. The foundation’s pledge is a call to action for the global community to come together and ensure that every child, no matter where they are born, has a fair chance at life.
A Turning Point for Global Health
“For the first time in decades, the number of kids dying around the world will likely go up this year instead of down,” said Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation. “That is a tragedy.”
The reason behind this reversal, he explained, is massive cuts to international aid. Many governments are reducing foreign aid budgets. This is putting pressure on programs that have been protecting children from preventable diseases for decades.
Gates emphasized that fully funding Gavi is the most effective way to stop this rising child death toll. “Fully funding Gavi is the single most powerful step we can take to stop it,” he added.
Why Gavi Matters
Gavi is one of the world’s leading global health organizations. It helps ensure that children in low-income countries can receive vaccines against diseases like measles, pneumonia, diphtheria, meningitis, and more.
Since it began 25 years ago, Gavi has delivered vaccines to more than 1.1 billion children across 78 countries. That effort is estimated to have saved nearly 19 million lives.
However, despite that success, the work is far from finished. One in every five children around the world still does not have access to essential vaccines. That means millions remain at risk of diseases that could easily be prevented.
A Crisis in Foreign Aid
The Gates Foundation is raising alarm over a dramatic drop in foreign aid funding in 2025. This drop threatens the progress made in global health, especially in child survival.
“International development programs have been severely impacted,” the foundation said. “Foreign assistance has plummeted after years of stagnation.”
What this means in real terms is that fewer vaccines are being delivered, fewer children are being protected, and more lives are at risk.
Bill Gates warned that the world must not let this happen. “The legacy of our generation cannot be that we looked away as millions of poor children died of preventable causes.”
He urged rich nations to step up and fully support both Gavi and the Global Fund—another international health financing institution.
A Global Call to Action
The announcement of the $1.6 billion pledge comes ahead of a major international event.
On June 25, global leaders will gather in Brussels for the Global Summit: Health & Prosperity through Immunisation. The summit is co-hosted by the European Union and the Gates Foundation.
During the summit, more funding commitments to Gavi are expected. Bill Gates will be there, encouraging world leaders to see immunization not just as a health goal but as a powerful investment in the future.
The foundation noted that early donor pledges show that there is still strong global support for vaccines—and for Gavi’s mission. Vaccination is one of the best ways to protect communities and reduce poverty.
A Model That Works
One thing that makes Gavi stand out is how it shares responsibility with the countries it supports.
Gavi uses a co-financing model. This means that while the alliance provides funding and support, countries are encouraged to contribute to their own vaccine programs. As a nation’s economy grows, so does its share of the costs. Eventually, successful countries “graduate” and become self-reliant.
Since 2000, 19 countries have completed this transition. This shows that the model works—it’s not just about giving aid, but building stronger systems that can stand on their own.
The story of Indonesia is a great example. The country was once a recipient of Gavi support. Today, it is a donor to Gavi.
“Indonesia’s journey from a Gavi-supported country to a donor is a testament to what’s possible through true partnership,” said Budi Gunadi Sadikin, the country’s Minister of Health.
Billions Already Invested
This new $1.6 billion commitment builds on the Gates Foundation’s long-term investment in vaccines.
So far, the foundation has spent more than $30.6 billion to advance vaccines globally. That includes investment in developing new vaccines, improving existing ones, and making sure they get to the people who need them.
Of that amount, $7.7 billion has already gone to Gavi, making the alliance the single largest recipient of Gates Foundation funding.
Now, the foundation is doubling down on its promise to keep children healthy and alive—no matter where they live.
The Foundation’s 25-Year Vision
The new pledge to Gavi is part of a much larger plan by the Gates Foundation. In January, it announced an ambitious goal: it will spend $200 billion over the next 20 years.
This money will focus on three main missions:
- Ending preventable deaths of mothers and babies.
- Preventing deadly infectious diseases for future generations.
- Lifting millions of people out of poverty by creating new opportunities.
But that’s not all.
The foundation is also working to:
- Improve education for students in the United States
- Build stronger digital infrastructure for developing countries
- Use artificial intelligence to improve health care, farming, and education
- Promote gender equality and help women get better access to health, education, and finance
This massive long-term investment reflects the foundation’s belief that real change comes from partnerships, innovation, and a global mindset.
The Stakes Have Never Been Higher
The world is still feeling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health systems in many countries are overwhelmed. Routine immunization campaigns have been disrupted. Outbreaks of preventable diseases are rising again.
Diseases that were once under control—like measles and polio—are making a comeback in some parts of the world. In places without strong health systems, even minor outbreaks can quickly become deadly.
Without support from organizations like Gavi, millions of children will remain unprotected. The consequences could be devastating—not just for health, but also for education, poverty, and stability.
This is why the Gates Foundation’s renewed commitment is so important.
It sends a message: the fight for child health is not over, and global solidarity is still possible.
What Happens Next?
The June 25 summit in Brussels is a major opportunity. Leaders from across the globe will have a chance to recommit to vaccine programs that have already saved millions of lives.
Will they rise to the occasion?
The Gates Foundation is leading the way. But it cannot do it alone. Governments, private donors, international organizations, and citizens all have a role to play.
The success of Gavi—and the future of child health—depends on what the world chooses to do now.
“Vaccines are among the most cost-effective tools available,” the foundation stated. “However, they don’t reach people on their own. That’s why Gavi plays a vital role in ensuring vaccines get to the children who need them most.”
A Moment of Moral Choice
This is more than a financial decision. It’s about saving children’s lives. It’s about justice, compassion, and the kind of world we choose to build together.
Millions of children in low-income countries still die from diseases that can be easily prevented with vaccines. These are not rare or mysterious illnesses—they are well-known, and we already have the tools to stop them. What’s missing is global action.
When we invest in vaccines, we give children a fighting chance to live, grow, and build a future. No child should be denied that chance simply because of where they were born.
This is a moment for the world to step up. To care. To act. And to protect the most vulnerable.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has committed $1.6 billion to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to help make vaccines available to children who need them most. But they cannot do it alone.
The question now is whether others will follow.
Will governments, donors, and citizens come together to protect children and continue the progress we’ve made in global health?
This is not just a call for funding. It’s a call for humanity.
The choice is ours. Let this be the moment we chose to save lives—and changed the future.