Geneva / Amman, 4 October 2024 – Thousands of conflict-afflicted people living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon are set to receive essential vaccines, thanks to US$ 20 million of new funding from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi). 

The funding, which will be channeled through UNICEF and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), will complement the efforts of the Palestinian Ministry of Health to restore critical health services. In addition to the delivery of lifesaving routine vaccines to communities most in need, Gavi has also approved a waiver to enable Palestine to access vaccines at no-cost through the global Gavi-funded vaccine stockpiles managed by WHO’s International Coordinating Group (ICG) mechanism, in the event of cholera and meningitis outbreaks.

"Gavi is committed to helping address the urgent health and humanitarian crisis in Palestine and for the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon,” said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “We commend the tireless efforts of our partners, who continue to deliver essential health services in the most challenging conditions. Together, we must do everything we can to ensure that children, amid the horror of their daily lives, are given every opportunity to access their basic right to a healthy start in life.”