Immunization financing
In the developing world, the cost of immunizing a child ranges from US$20 to $40, including basic vaccine coverage and administration costs. However, in 2007, 985 million people—mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia—lived on less than $1 a day. This extreme poverty makes paying for vaccines nearly impossible despite their proven cost-effectiveness. As a result, immunization financing is a critical tool for providing access to lifesaving vaccines to those who need them most.
View resources on immunization financing
Key resources
Estimating the Costs of Achieving the WHO-UNICEF Global Immunization Vision and Strategy, 2006-2015 (2008)
Cost estimates for scaling up childhood immunization services required to reach the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Global Immunization Vision and Strategy goal of reducing mortality due to vaccine-preventable diseases by two-thirds by 2015.
Immunization Financing Options: A Resource for Policymakers (2002)
Briefing sheets from the World Bank and GAVI Alliance intended for policymakers in ministries of health, finance, planning, and investment.
Advance Market Commitments
A website resource from the GAVI Alliance and the World Bank to explain this innovative financing mechanism designed to provide vaccines for developing-world populations.
Immunization Financing
A section of the WHO website that provides an overview of immunization financing issues, with links to relevant documents and organizations.
Introduction and Sustainable Use of Vaccines in Developing Countries (2006)
Discussions and recommendations from a key meeting organized by the Sabin Vaccine Institute that addressed critical issues in vaccine financing for developing countries, the evaluation of new vaccine introduction, and the sustainability of improvements to national immunization programs.
