Gavi to give USD 500 mln to India for immunisation programme

A global agency has committed to offer USD 500 million to the Indian government over the next five years for supporting immunisation programme in the country.
Geneva-based Gavi, a global vaccine alliance funded by Bill and Milinda Gates Foundation, among other donor organisations, has pledge this amount.
Additional Secretary, Health, C K Mishra said Gavi Board that monitors vaccine implementation programme will provide USD 500 million to support the government for next five years.
"Gavi Board last week approved our proposal which was being doubted all over. According to the proposal, they will give USD 500 million over the next five years. The major vaccines we are looking forward to support with this amount are rotavirus, measles-rubella, PCV vaccine and also as when we decide to introduce HPV,"he said.

The total immunisation budget of the government is Rs 600 crore, which Mishra said will go upto Rs 1,800 crores by next year.
Government has also taken over the task of implementing Pentavalent vaccine in its immunization programme at a cost of Rs 750 crore annually from next year which was earlier being taken care of by the Gavi Board.

"The Pentavalent vaccine has already been rolled out in all states of the country. It was supported by Gavi till the end of this year. We have have decided to take over the implement of Pentavalent with our domestic budget by next year which will be Rs 750 crore," Mishra said.

About 8.8 to 9 crore doses of pentavalent will be required annualy for which procurement process has been started, he said.
"8.8 crore doses will be required. Orders and tenders have been given," he said.
Through the transition, government is looking more for health system-strengthening support than commodity-driven support, he said.