Addis Ababa, June 27, 2025 (FMC) — Ethiopia’s Minister of Health, Dr. Mekdes Daba, has emphasized that investment in vaccine supply is an essential investment in a healthier and more prosperous future.
She delivered the message during her participation in the Global Summit on Health and Prosperity through Immunization held in Brussels, the Ethiopian Embassy in Brussels told Fana Digital.
The summit was organized by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, in partnership with the European Union and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
It brought together 10 heads of state, 24 ministers, and representatives from 55 donor and partner countries, along with leaders from multilateral institutions, civil society, the private sector, and the vaccine industry.
In her address, Dr. Mekdes underscored the importance of expanding vaccine access through sustained investment as a critical path toward both saving lives and supporting long-term development goals.
Her message echoed the summit’s core objective: to mobilize global support for immunization efforts expected to save at least 8 million lives between 2026 and 2030.
The conference secured over US $9 billion in pledges toward Gavi’s US $11.9 billion target for its 2026–2030 strategy.
These funds will support the protection of an estimated 500 million children, while also boosting outbreak preparedness and building resilience to the health impacts of climate change and conflict.
Financial support also came from development finance institutions, including contributions mobilized by the World Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the European Investment Bank.
The summit further highlighted cost-saving commitments from vaccine manufacturers, including a 50 percent reduction in the price of the RTS,S malaria vaccine and a 17 percent drop in the cost of rotavirus vaccines.
These changes are expected to save Gavi-supported programs approximately US $200 million by 2030.
After the summit, Dr. Mekdes met with diplomats at the Ethiopian Embassy in Brussels to discuss Ethiopia’s continued collaboration with international partners in strengthening vaccine delivery and access.