New funds to enhance global immunisation efforts, particularly in middle-income countries, to prevent, detect, and respond to vaccine-preventable diseases. The initiative, with WHO and UNICEF, aims to raise $15 million over the next two years.
The UN Foundation has announced the Outbreak Prevention and Preparedness Fund, a new initiative designed to enhance global health by strengthening national immunization systems. This Fund, supported by multiple donors, aims to address significant gaps in vaccine coverage, improving the ability to prevent, detect, and respond to vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs).
Recent WHO and UNICEF data highlight the urgency of this initiative. In 2023, 16% of infants globally did not receive all three doses of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine. Alarmingly, 14.5 million children received no vaccines, classifying them as “zero-dose.” Over half of these unvaccinated children live in countries affected by conflict and instability.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized global cooperation: “Closing the immunization gap requires a global effort, with governments, partners, and local leaders investing in primary healthcare and community workers to ensure every child gets vaccinated and that overall healthcare is strengthened.”
The Fund will focus on middle-income countries (MICs), which often lack access to existing funding mechanisms. Annually, 66 million children are born in MICs, with one in three missing essential vaccines. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed the urgency: “Deadly measles outbreaks show us the urgency of closing immunization gaps. Where gaps in immunity exist, measles often spreads first, targeting the most vulnerable.”
The UN Foundation aims to raise $15 million over the next two years for this initiative. Dr. Ahmed Ogwell, Vice President for Global Health Strategy at the UN Foundation, called for more support: “To truly bridge the immunization gap and protect more vulnerable children, we invite more partners to join us in this critical effort.”
Interested organizations can contact OutbreakFund@unfoundation.org.
