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McCollum and Reichert Introduce Legislation Expressing Support for GAVI Alliance

July 30, 2014

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Congressman Dave Reichert (R-WA) introduced H. Res 688, expressing support for the GAVI Alliance, which provides access to life-saving vaccines to children in the world’s poorest countries.

The GAVI Alliance was formed in 2000 as the result of a partnership between leading global health organizations such as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. At the time, immunization rates were falling and life-saving vaccines were not reaching the people who needed them most. Since then, GAVI has helped increase access to vaccines, establish immunization programs in developing countries, and help finance the development of new vaccines. Thanks in large part to GAVI’s work, developing countries are now better equipped to prevent disease and protect the health of their children.

“Ensuring that all children have access to life-saving vaccines is one of the best global health investments we can make,” said Congresswoman Betty McCollum. “Because of GAVI’s incredible work, more than 440 million of children in the world’s poorest countries have been immunized against preventable diseases. Still, too many children need access to these basic vaccines. I look forward to working with my congressional colleagues to ensure the United States remains strongly committed to GAVI’s success.“

“No child’s life should ever be jeopardized by preventable disease,” said Congressman Dave Reichert. “I am proud to work with the GAVI Alliance and help educate my colleagues about the need for childhood vaccines and immunizations in all parts of the world. I thank Congresswoman McCollum for her work on this issue and I am honored to work alongside her to make a difference in protecting the health of children across the globe.”

"With strong bipartisan support from Congress, the U.S. is leading a global effort to end preventable child deaths," said Joanne Carter, Executive Director of RESULTS. "The upcoming replenishment of GAVI will be a critical moment to accelerate progress in saving lives, and help poor countries ensure that all children, everywhere can have access to life-saving vaccines."