Kate O'Brien, Director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals at WHO
Last week, the global health community turned its focus to Geneva for the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA77), as global health leaders and advocates gathered under the inspiring theme "All for Health, Health for All." Member States actively engaged in critical decisions to enhance preparedness for present and future health challenges, including pandemics, climate change, and growing antibiotic resistance, while also championing universal health coverage.
In response to the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) Global Progress Report presented to WHA77, over 50 Member States spoke in strong support of the issues raised in the report and confirmed their unwavering support for Regional Action Plans and National Immunization Strategies, underscoring committed efforts to restore and further strengthen immunization programmes. Key initiatives highlighted included the ‘Big Catch-up,’ aimed at recovering ground lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the introduction of new vaccines such as those for malaria and HPV. Please read the summary of Members States’ interventions here.
The Assembly reached another milestone with Member States endorsing WHO's Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14), a four-year strategy aimed at building resilient, fit-for-future health systems and poised to avert 40 million deaths over the next four years. The plan’s six strategic priorities underscore the imperative to address inequities, strengthen health systems, promote preventive approaches, and confront the health impacts of climate change.
In addition to strongly aligning with the principles of universal health coverage, Member States emphasized that GPW14’s focus on social determinants of health will require enhanced multisectoral cooperation to achieve its objectives. This recognition highlights the added value of immunization efforts in bolstering global health resilience.
On the final day of WHA77, in a historic development, Member States agreed on critical amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR). These actions aim to establish robust systems worldwide to protect against future outbreaks and pandemics, building on the valuable lessons learned from various global health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic, making the world a safer place for everyone.
Despite a deadlock over issues of equity, Member States have granted themselves another 12 months to finalize a global pandemic treaty aimed at enhancing the world's response to future pandemics. This willingness to extend the negotiations reflects nations' commitment to the treaty, fostering growing optimism that an extension until 2025 will enable them to reach a consensus.
TB Vaccine Accelerator Council charts ambitious path forward
On the sidelines of WHA77, WHO convened its Second High-Level Meeting of the TB Vaccine Accelerator Council. The meeting concluded with a consensus on three key acceleration tracks for TB vaccines over the next two years. These include accelerating the:
Diversification of the TB vaccine portfolio by fast-tracking the translation of promising discoveries into deployable vaccines through effective funding strategies and enhanced collaboration.
Market solutions to incentivize late-stage TB vaccine development through a pull incentive mechanism addressing national commitments, technology transfer, trade, and intellectual property.
Rapid implementation and uptake of new TB vaccines through a comprehensive learning agenda to support preparedness, streamline regulatory processes, and facilitate global access to new TB vaccines.
In a bid to bolster these efforts, the Council agreed to host a TB vaccine financing conference in 2025. This conference will unveil procurement and financing options for late-stage products, aiming for timely and equitable access. To pave the way for this conference, Council members committed to leveraging political and technical dialogues through existing and new collaborations, including working groups, country workshops, and scheduled TB events.
The WHO's TB Vaccine Accelerator Council is poised to drive transformative progress in the fight against TB, setting a dynamic course for global health advancements.
Special high-level event marking the 50th anniversary of EPI
On 28 May, the WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, hosted a special high-level event marking the 50th anniversary of the Essential Programme on Immunization (EPI). Launched by WHO in 1974, the EPI has been a bedrock of global public health, delivering extensive economic benefits and integrating essential public health resources. The event provided the opportunity to reflect on EPI's profound impact on global health. Please read the news article on the event here.
I wish to acknowledge with deep appreciation Dr. Ann Lindstrand, EPI Unit Head at WHO, and the full team, whose leadership, ideas, and commitment were crucial to the event's success.
To all our partners, may I extend my profound gratitude for your unwavering support, dedication and hard work which has driven the success of the EPI programmes over these many years. Your commitment, ingenuity, and contributions have been invaluable and is measured in tens of millions of lives saved, and billions of healthy years secured.
Gavi Board approves bold 2026-2030 Strategy, sets stage for major vaccine initiatives
Last week, the Gavi Board approved the Alliance strategy for 2026-2030, marking a significant step toward enhancing global vaccine coverage and equity. This strategy, known as Gavi 6.0, aims to accelerate vaccine coverage, introduce new vaccines, bridge the equity gap, reach "zero-dose" children and communities, fully vaccinated every child, and bolster global health security including through regional vaccine manufacturing.
The details of Gavi 6.0 and the funding required to implement it, will be unveiled in Paris, on 20 June, at the "Protecting Our Future: The Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation." Co-hosted by President Macron of France, Gavi, and the African Union, this event will introduce Gavi's Investment Opportunity for 2026-2030 and the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), a pioneering $1 billion financial instrument designed to support sustainable vaccine manufacturing on the African continent.
Securing funding for the 2026-2030 period is crucial for Gavi's strategy. WHO is calling for robust support for Gavi’s replenishment event to ensure the continued success of Gavi's model, which has been instrumental in improving vaccine access for hundreds of millions of children. Since 2000, Gavi investments have protected over 1 billion children against vaccine-preventable diseases. However, many children, especially in fragile and humanitarian settings, still miss out on routine vaccinations.
The new strategy and upcoming initiatives signal a bold and innovative era, aiming to safeguard future generations through improved vaccine access and health security. Join us at WHO to do all you can to assure that the investments needed to turn the strategy into reality are made.
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