In June 2024 the Board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, shared a series of decisions to “provide a framework for the acceleration of global immunisation”. The decisions were formalised during a meeting in Geneva and include the approval of “Gavi 6.0”, the 2026-2030 strategy, and the expansion of the vaccine portfolio to include tuberculosis, dengue fever, group B streptococcus, hepatitis E, and mpox. Acknowledging that vaccines are “one of the most impactful and cost-effective health and development interventions available today”, Professor José Manuel Barroso, Chair of the Board, highlighted a “clear” message:
“The world must continue to invest in the transformative impact of vaccines and their ability to save lives and ensure our collective security.”
The Board began by reviewing progress for the current strategic period. The Alliance is “largely on track” across mission indicators, despite disruptions caused by COVID-19. This progress includes “critical advances” in HPV vaccine efforts and the new malaria vaccination programme. However, the Board notes with concern that the number of outbreaks requiring a response between 2022 and 2023 “remains far above pre-pandemic averages”. This is “primarily driven by surges in cholera and measles outbreaks”.
Gavi 6.0
Gavi’s strategy for 2026-2030 is known as “Gavi 6.0” and is described as the “most ambitious in Gavi’s history”. In efforts to provide protection to more people against more diseases, faster, the strategy demands “continued focus” on the core mission:
- To support new vaccine introductions
- Expand existing programmes
- Achieve equity through targeted efforts to reach and fully immunise missed ‘zero-dose’ children and communities
- Scale up critical innovations
- Shape markets to ensure the availability of affordable and suitable vaccines for lower-income countries
The strategy will also make Gavi’s model “increasingly responsive to the evolving global context”. This means meeting countries’ and communities’ needs amid climate change, the increasing threat of outbreaks, antimicrobial resistance, and fragility and conflict.
Portfolio expansion
Gavi states that a “critical part” of each five-year period is the approval of a new Vaccine Investment Strategy (VIS), which considers the vaccine pipeline and evaluates the best route for portfolio expansion. The 2024 VIS includes future vaccination programmes and learning agendas for tuberculosis, group B streptococcus, and dengue fever. It also includes global stockpiles and learning agendas for vaccines against mpox and hepatitis E.
The Board also extended approval to a learning agenda on vaccination against shigella and “recommended sunsetting of the routine COVID-19 vaccination programme at the end of 2025”. After this period, potential needs for COVID-19 will be addressed through the emergency response mechanisms. In the current strategic period, the Board approved support for the response to the ongoing mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and potential outbreaks in surrounding countries. This includes “leverages COVID-19 experiences” to coordinate dose donations.
Sovereignty and security
Decisions were also made on the “operational parameters for innovative vaccine sovereignty and health security mechanisms” that were established in response to lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic. This included approval of the final structure of the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), which launches on the 20th of June. The Board endorsed AVMA’s governance mechanisms, which include the Board and partners from the AU, African CDC, UNICEF, WHO, manufacturers, and donors. This “sends an immediate signal” to investors about Gavi’s commitment to supporting a sustainable African vaccine manufacturing base and improving African pandemic and outbreak vaccine supply resilience.
Also discussed was the Day Zero Financing Facility for Pandemics. This is a “suite of instruments” intended to make financing accessible in the first 100 days of a major public health emergency. The Board approved parameters for the First Response Fund, which sets aside $500 million for “rapid response” to emergencies and confirmed the scope as core Gavi-eligible countries, with potential for exceptions. It targets WHO Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEICs) without existing vaccine programmes.
Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, commented that the decisions taken by the Board “reflect our full Alliance of stakeholders aligning around a clear goal” of ensuring the model continues to “best support the countries and communities who are our partners”.
“In a complex and changing world, today’s decisions will help Gavi deliver systematic impact faster than ever before.”
We look forward to hearing more from senior representatives of Gavi at the Congress in Barcelona later this year. Get your tickets to join us now, and don’t forget to subscribe for more updates.
