Bill and Melinda Gates announced Friday that their eponymous foundation will donate $10 billion over the next 10 years to spur research, development and delivery of vaccines to the world’s most impoverished nations. The multibillion dollar commitment, the largest pledge ever made by a charitable foundation to a single cause, is an extraordinary investment that could dramatically reduce child mortality by the conclusion of the decade.
That’s the goal set by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. “We must make this the decade of vaccines,” said Mr. Gates. “Vaccines already save and improve millions of lives in developing countries. Innovation will make it possible to save more children than ever before.” “Vaccines,” added Mrs. Gates, are a miracle. “With just a few doses, they can prevent deadly diseases for lifetime.”
There’s considerable long-standing evidence available to prove the efficacy of vaccines. Many diseases that were once the scourge of childhood have been eliminated or severely reduced by the widespread administration of vaccines, That’s especially true in highly developed nations with efficient public and private healthcare infrastructure.
In poor nations, however, large-scale vaccination programs are beyond the means of both governments and individuals. The result far too often is widespread illness and death from diseases that are no longer a threat in wealthier countries.
The Gates’ investment is designed to change that equation. The foundation will support both delivery of currently available serum and research into new vaccines. Both are critical in the battle against debilitating disease.