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ASTERCARD and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, announced recently at a high-level conference for Gavi’s 2018 mid-term review, a new transformative partnership to ensure more children from the poorest countries are able to benefit from life-saving immunization programs.

Although major progress has been made to increase immunization rates, one in five children in Gavi-supported countries are still not reached with basic lifesaving vaccines. In many developing countries, common barriers may include a lack of information about a child’s immunization record and limited means by which to remind care givers about follow up appointments.

This partnership will leverage Mastercard expertise and technology, enabling ministries of health and authorized health workers to provide a card with a digital immunization record, to each participating child’s caregiver. By empowering caregivers to stay on track to receive critical vaccinations, the program aims to strengthen the efficiency and reach of health services in developing countries where children are most at risk of missing out on immunization. Governments will benefit from having a better understanding of the immunization needs of their communities.

“Access to services like healthcare and education are vital to helping families build a promising future. By applying our technology to humanitarian and development challenges, we can help optimize and scale life-saving programs in underserved communities around the world,” said Michael Froman, vice chairman and president of strategic growth at Mastercard.

“Children, especially those living in the most remote, impoverished communities, lack immunization records,” said Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “That represents an enormous impediment to Gavi’s mission of ensuring that every child worldwide receives the essential vaccines they need to survive and thrive. This partnership with Mastercard has the potential to overcome that challenge.”

The partnership aims to be implemented across five countries over the next two years with the goal of expanding the solution to all other interested Gavi-supported countries, based notably, on mutually agreed targets being met.

Gavi’s mid-term review, held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) last Dec.10-11, is a high-level conference celebrating Gavi’s progress and impact in the world’s poorest countries. By the end of 2018, Gavi will have contributed to the immunization of 700 million people and the prevention of more than 10 million future deaths. This has contributed to an acceleration in the decline of global under-five mortality rates and brought wider impact beyond immunization.

As well as reviewing progress made since the last Gavi replenishment in Berlin in 2015, this high-level conference is also an opportunity to shape Gavi’s future and help overcome the challenges preventing children from receiving the full course of recommended vaccines. This is a cost effective and high impact intervention that is core to primary health care and provides a robust platform to deliver better health for all. — SG