Project Syndicate: Immunization Independence
Helen Saxenian, senior fellow at Results for Development, and Paul Wilson, senior fellow at Results for Development and assistant professor at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health

“…[N]ew international funding initiatives — such … Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance — have invested billions of dollars in national disease-control programs and health systems, saving millions of lives. But now some of the countries that have benefited from these programs face a new challenge: sustaining the gains they have made once external support is withdrawn. … With so much at stake, international agencies must do whatever they can to prepare countries for ‘life after Gavi.’ … [A new publication from Results for Development, titled ‘Immunization Financing: A Resource Guide for Advocates, Policymakers, and Program Managers,’] provides information on estimating immunization costs, assessing the pros and cons of various sources of financing, shaping purchasing strategies, and navigating policy processes. It does not prescribe one way forward, but rather provides relevant information and expert analysis. Countries can then evaluate options in light of their own circumstances, and advocates can ask the right questions. … [O]nly if countries successfully negotiate the transition from Gavi support can they be confident that future generations will enjoy the same health protections” (5/18).