Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development : Record-breaking result for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance: target of 7.5 billion US dollars is surpassed

 Germany's G7 Presidency got under way with an overwhelming triumph at the Gavi pledging conference. At the close of the event, German Development Minister Gerd Müller thanked all participants for the record-breaking result.

The start of Germany's G7 Presidency could not have been better, Müller said. "The 7.539 billion dollars that were pledged today mean that an additional 300 million children in the world's poorest countries can be vaccinated. The efforts made in recent years can thus be substantially enhanced and further expanded. By 2020, there will be 600 million euros just from the increases in German support. These funds are also intended to support efforts to develop an Ebola vaccine and establish basic health care structures in the affected countries. We want to ensure that by 2030 no more children, anywhere in the world, will die from preventable diseases."

Around midday, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel informed the conference participants - some 200 international guests including the Presidents of Mali and Tanzania, the Norwegian Prime Minister and numerous Health Ministers from around the world - that Germany would be increasing its contribution. The Chancellor also announced an initiative for improved crisis management in the health sector. This is to include a pool of medical staff - "white helmets" - who can be mobilised rapidly

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance supports immunisation in the 73 poorest countries of the world. Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has helped provide immunisation to 500 million children, thus averting seven million deaths.

Partners of the Alliance include countries, international organisations such as Unicef and the World Bank, companies and private donors, for instance the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.