World leaders at GAVI summit pledge $9 billion

World leaders gathered at the Global Summit in Brussels, pledging over $9 billion to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, towards its $11.9 billion goal for 2026-2030. The commitments aim to protect 500 million children from preventable diseases, potentially averting 8-9 million deaths and unlocking $100 billion in economic benefits.

The Gates Foundation contributed $1.6 billion, while the European Commission pledged €360 million. Additional financing of $4.5 billion was unlocked for immunization programs.

Leaders urged more donor engagement, emphasizing that full funding is crucial for global health security. Ursula von der Leyen stated, "Investing in health is investing in our shared future."