Devex: Opinion: We are at a critical moment to invest in immunization
Kate Dodson, vice president for global health at the United Nations Foundation

“To stop measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases in their tracks, we know that countries need to step up their vaccination efforts. While many countries are working to ramp up domestic spending on immunization and health, the international community continues to play an important role. … We need to have robust donor support to multilateral organizations working on immunizations globally in order to keep us on the path to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3: Health and well-being for all. … Meeting the replenishment needs of our most important platforms for collective action on immunization must remain a top priority for donor governments and other philanthropic partners if we are going to see the tide turn against vaccine-preventable diseases and other threats to the world’s health and well-being. … If we succeed, 1.5 million people could be saved each year through better immunization coverage. … To maintain progress on immunization, build strong health systems, and reach the SDG targets, we will need new paradigms of partnership between countries, development partners, and the private sector. Donors, the private sector, and governments will need to pull together in the same direction in 2019 and make good on the pledge to leave no one behind…” (3/18).