To the editor:
This week, April 24 to 30, the world observes World Immunization Week with the theme “For Every Generation, Vaccines Work.” As someone involved in vaccine research, I can tell you that vaccines are among the most effective tools humanity has ever created. Over the past 50 years, vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives. That’s six lives every minute, every day, for five decades. Vaccines have contributed to a roughly a 40% reduction in infant mortality.
That progress happened not by chance but because governments invested in it, year after year.
Now that investment is at risk. About 1 in 5 children globally still lack access to lifesaving vaccines. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has helped vaccinate more than 1.2 billion children and prevent more than 20 million deaths by pooling donor resources and negotiating lower vaccine prices. Gavi now plans to vaccinate 500 million more children over the next five years, but it can only do this with continued support.
In 2024, the U.S. made a historic $1.58 billion, five-year pledge to Gavi. Congress has fought to maintain this commitment in FY2026, even amid proposed cuts to global health funding. For twenty years, Republicans and Democrats have worked together to fund this lifesaving effort. I urge our members of Congress to honor that tradition and maintain this commitment in FY2027. Cutting this funding means children will die from diseases we know how to prevent.
We know vaccines work. Congress must act like it.
Ritobhas (Ricky) Bhowmik
RESULTS Fellow
and RESULTS Massachusetts Advocate
Brookline
