Somerset Times

(June 11, 2024) WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representatives Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Maria Salazar (FL-27), and Sara Jacobs (CA-51) introduced a bipartisan resolution affirming continued U.S. support for the purchase of vaccines for lower-income countries through Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The resolution highlights Gavi as a cost-effective means to combat preventable child and maternal deaths globally.

Since its establishment in 2000, Gavi has helped vaccinate over 1 billion children in 78 countries by the end of 2022, averting more than 17.3 million future deaths.

“By providing cost-effective and sustainable vaccine distribution, Gavi reinforces the global commitment to safeguarding the health of children around the world,” said Congressman Kean. “Gavi helps vaccinate more than half the world’s children against deadly and debilitating infectious diseases. I am honored to lead this resolution to affirm the United States’ continued support for Gavi, ensuring access to life-saving vaccines for lower-income nations and saving countless lives from preventable disease.”

“Just as vaccines work to save lives, Gavi works to save lives through increased immunization. For the last 24 years, Gavi has been the premier global health partnership — reducing the spread of diseases and prolonging the lives of millions of children who would have otherwise perished without access to vaccines,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “I’m proud to join this bipartisan resolution because promoting American leadership in eradicating preventable diseases is an issue that can — and should — transcend political divides.”

“U.S. leadership in global health ensures reduced maternal and child deaths around the world,” said Congresswoman Salazar. “We must continue these life-saving investments, which result in breakthrough technologies like the malaria vaccine and help create healthy and prosperous societies in developing countries.”

“Vaccines are one of our most important tools to fight global childhood poverty and prepare our next generation of leaders,” said Congresswoman Jacobs. “That’s why I’m grateful for GAVI’s decades of work to help vaccinate more than 1 billion children — especially those in the Global South — against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan resolution supporting continued U.S. investments in GAVI.”

"RESULTS thanks Reps. Kean, Amo, Salazar, and Jacobs for introducing this Gavi resolution," said RESULTS Executive Director Joanne Carter. "Now, the administration should use this momentum to pledge no less than $1.4 billion over four years to unlock other donor support and propel country-led vaccine efforts."

“We thank Representatives Kean, Amo, Jacobs, and Salazar for their leadership on this bipartisan resolution,” said Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, President and CEO of The ONE Campaign. “A robust US investment in Gavi signals our commitment to protecting children from preventable disease.”

“We applaud H.Res. 1286 in support of Gavi’s lifesaving work," said Martha Rebour, Executive Director of Shot@Life, and Margaret Reilly McDonnell, Executive Director of United to Beat Malaria.

The resolution affirms U.S support for purchasing vaccines through Gavi; supports principles including healthy markets for vaccines; recognizes multi-year pledges' importance; encourages increased U.S commitment from 2026-2030.