Singapore pledges US$1m to global vaccine group Gavi
SINGAPORE - Singapore has pledged US$1 million ( S$1.3 million ) to global vaccine group Gavi as part of the country's continued commitment to global health and vaccine equity.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said on June 26 that the move reflects Singapore's support of efforts to bring life-saving vaccines to communities in need, especially in low-income countries.
'Vaccines are one of the most effective tools in preventing diseases and saving lives. However, millions of people around the world still lack access to essential vaccines,' said MOH.
'Gavi bridges these gaps by working with governments, international organisations, and private sector partners to deliver vaccines to underserved populations. It also plays a pivotal role in enhancing pandemic preparedness, improving immunisation systems and ensuring equitable access to vaccines during global health emergencies.'
In June, Gavi said it was seeking new donors for its work funding childhood immunisation in the world's poorest countries. It aimed to raise US$9 billion of its total requirement of US$11.9 billion at a summit in Brussels on June 26 for its work from 2026-2030.
In a Facebook post on June 26 , Gavi's chief executive Sania Nishtar said that Gavi had received more than US$9 million pledges from a record number of donors, which she said would protect 500 million children that the group aims to vaccinate over the next five years.
Gavi is currently focused on combating a global measles outbreak and is responding to cholera outbreaks in Sudan, South Sudan, and Angola, where it has made special arrangements to supply vaccines from its stockpiles, and is also supporting Sierra Leone, where the spread of mpox has accelerated.
In a video message to the Gavi Global Summit on June 26, Singapore's health minister Ong Ye Kung lauded Gavi's 'pivotal' role in the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic, describing it as a 'monumental achievement, demonstrating the power of solidarity and the critical importance of investing in global health infrastructure'.
However, he noted that Gavi faced its share of criticism, that it could have done more and that it could not totally eradicate vaccine inequality between economies.
'Sometimes it is not easy to be on the side of good. It takes courage and a strong sense of mission and purpose. Gavi has done this, and it deserves our strong support,' said Mr Ong.
Singapore first became a Gavi donor in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, contributing US$5 million to Gavi's Advance Market Commitment, which is a mechanism under the Covid-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility ensuring access to Covid-19 vaccines and support for lower-income countries .
The Trump administration has previously indicated that it planned to cut its funding for Gavi, representing around US$300 million annually, which risks causing more than a million deaths, according to Ms Nishtar.
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