Which of the four domains of health equity action (organization, offerings, community, ecosystem) does the initiative target? For additional context, please visit the GHEN website.
· Organization
· Offerings
· Community
· Ecosystem
What health inequity does your initiative aim to address? Which specific regions, populations, health disparities?
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is committed to addressing global health inequities, particularly those related to vaccine-preventable diseases. The alliance targets disparities in immunization access among the most vulnerable populations in low-income countries.
Its initiatives are strategically focused on reaching marginalized communities, including those in remote rural areas, conflict zones, and urban slums. Within these communities, children and pregnant women are disproportionately affected by the scarcity of immunization services, placing them at an increased risk for diseases such as measles, diphtheria, hepatitis B, measles, meningitis, mumps, pertussis, poliomyelitis, rubella, tetanus, tuberculosis or yellow fever.
In an effort to combat these health disparities, Gavi supports the strengthening of health systems and the rollout of new and underutilized vaccines. Complementing this, the alliance backs campaigns aimed at reaching 'zero-dose' children — those who have yet to receive any routine vaccines — and reducing the number of communities missed by health services, thereby striving to bridge the equity gap.
Further, Gavi's strategy includes the crucial integration of vaccine services with other health interventions, which is essential for populations with limited access to health services. This integrative approach not only boosts the efficiency of healthcare delivery but also expands the reach and effectiveness of each intervention that the alliance funds and supports.
By implementing these targeted actions, Gavi seeks to fulfill the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals: ensuring no one is left behind and that equitable access to life-saving vaccines and their protective benefits against preventable diseases is available to all individuals, regardless of age or location.
Please provide an overview of your initiative / approach.
The alliance pools demand for vaccines from the world's poorest countries, achieving economies of scale that lower prices and ensure a sustainable supply of a wide range of vaccines. This innovative market-shaping strategy not only makes vaccines more affordable but also incentivizes manufacturers to invest in vaccine research and development.
To strengthen health systems, Gavi invests in cold chain infrastructure to maintain vaccine potency, trains healthcare workers, and supports delivery systems to reach even the most remote areas. By doing so, Gavi facilitates the delivery of vaccines and improves overall healthcare.
Gavi's support goes beyond traditional vaccines. It actively promotes the introduction of new vaccines such as the Malaria vaccines and technological innovations to streamline delivery and tracking, making immunization programs more effective and efficient.
Crucially, Gavi’s model is one of partnership, working closely with national governments, civil society, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, and the private sector. Through collective action and shared expertise, Gavi helps countries to build self-sustaining immunization programs.
Accountability and sustainability are key tenets of Gavi's approach. It assists countries in developing their health financing so that they can transition successfully from Gavi support, ensuring the long-term sustainability of immunization programs.
This comprehensive approach helps to bridge gaps in vaccine coverage and contributes to stronger health systems, aiming to protect the next generation against infectious diseases and ensure a healthy future for all children.
Why did your organization choose to prioritize this specific inequity/initiative for action?
· Organizational capabilities best suited to address need
What impact has the initiative achieved?
· Over 1 billion children vaccinated through routine programmes, 2000–2022
· 17.3m future deaths averted between 2000–2022.
· Over 220.5bn in economic benefits generated in the countries Gavi support between 2000–2022
· For every US$ 1 spent on immunisation in the 2021–2030 period, US$ 21 are saved in health care costs, lost wages and lost productivity due to illness and death. When considering the value people place on lives saved by vaccines the return on investment is estimated to be US$ 54 per US$ 1 spent.
How was the impact measured (e.g., metrics used, tools employed, relevant standards)?
Gavi measures its impact using a range of metrics, including the number of vaccine doses administered, immunization coverage rates, and the reduction in disease incidence. Tools for data collection and analysis encompass Health Management Information Systems (HMIS), surveys like the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), and independent evaluations. These are benchmarked against international standards such as the WHO/UNICEF estimates of national immunization coverage.
What organizations did you partner with to complete this initiative? How did these partners contribute throughout the initiative’s lifecycle? What role in this partnership does your organization play (e.g., funder, convener)?
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, partners with a diverse array of organizations to fulfill its initiatives, including WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, and various civil society organizations and vaccine manufacturers. These partners contribute throughout the initiative's lifecycle—from planning and procurement to implementation and evaluation. WHO provides technical expertise and guidance on immunization best practices, while UNICEF leads on vaccine procurement and supply chain operations. The World Bank contributes through financial tools and mechanisms that support sustainable funding. Civil society organizations are instrumental in advocacy and ensuring that services reach the most marginalized populations. Vaccine manufacturers, incentivized by Gavi’s market-shaping efforts, supply vaccines at reduced prices. Gavi's role in this partnership ecosystem is multifaceted; it acts as a funder, strategic planner, and convener. It mobilizes resources, brings stakeholders together to address shared challenges, and coordinates efforts across the various phases of vaccine delivery and system strengthening to ensure coherent and effective immunization coverage expansion.
How is the initiative actively involving impacted communities (e.g., in identifying the health gap, co-creating the initiative or measuring impact) throughout the initiative lifecycle?
The initiative of Gavi and its partners actively involve impacted communities by engaging them in identifying health gaps, co-creating solutions, and measuring the impact of interventions. This participatory approach ensures that the initiatives are contextually relevant and sustainable.
What is the future vision for the initiative? Will it scale to other regions or translate to other drivers of health?
The alliance intends to extend its immunization efforts to areas with the most significant disparities in vaccine coverage. A key component of this strategy is the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator, a pivotal move to boost local vaccine production capacity across the African continent. This initiative is set to fortify health systems and develop resilience to the ever-changing landscape of global health threats, including emerging infectious diseases and potential pandemics. Gavi also envisions a future where its model adapts to the changing drivers of health by incorporating new vaccine developments, digital innovations for health tracking and delivery, and integration with other essential health services. This holistic approach is aimed at not just preventing disease, but also promoting overall health and well-being. The alliance will continue to emphasize sustainability, aiming to empower countries to eventually finance and manage their own immunization programs. By doing so, Gavi's vision is one of creating lasting health security and self-reliance, with the ultimate goal of a world where vaccines reach every person, everywhere.