Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, a public-private partnership global health organisation, has raised the alarm that limited funding may disrupt malaria and Human Papillomavirus vaccination programmes in lower-income countries in the coming years.
In a statement on Friday to mark World Malaria Day 2026, the organisation said that despite the progress Africa has recorded in recent years, the accomplishments could be eroded if investment and mobilisation of domestic resources for immunisation are not prioritised.
The organisation said it planned to make malaria vaccines available to 50 million children across Africa by 2030, with five more countries on the continent expected to introduce the vaccine by the end of the decade through support of Gavi, while another 10 nations are set to launch the HPV immunisation within the same time frame.
“This progress is at risk. While lower-income countries continue to mobilise record financing for immunisation, sustained prioritisation of investment in immunisation and increased domestic resource mobilisation – as advocated for by the Alliance and partners such as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) – will be critical to maintain progress and achieve the full potential of these critical life-saving programmes,” the statement said.
However, Gavi revealed the malaria programme is facing a 30 per cent budget deficit, forcing support to be scaled down, stating that “Bridging this gap and protecting as many vulnerable children as possible will require additional domestic and donor financing.”
The call by Gavi came as countries are set to individually bear the cost of HPV and malaria programmes, alongside other Gavi-supported vaccines, through their vaccine budgets for the first time from 2026 to 2030. The organisation will also hand over 90 per cent of decision-making to respective countries.
Gavi added, “In the 2026–2030 period, HPV and malaria programmes, alongside other Gavi-supported vaccines, will be financed for the first time through country vaccine budgets – with Gavi handing decision-making over 90% of its procurement budget directly to countries.
“In a time of funding constraints, this approach aims to provide governments a five-year resource view and control over which vaccines to prioritise based on national strategy, context and needs. However, due to funding gaps, countries will have to make difficult choices that Gavi estimates will lead to 600,000 fewer lives saved by the end of the decade.”
Furthermore, Gavi highlighted that, through its malaria vaccine programme, in partnership with the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and other organisations, over 52 million doses have been delivered to low-income communities around the world since 2023, thereby reducing the financial burden.
“Early reports from Kenya, Malawi, Ghana and Cameroon show reduced severe disease and hospital admissions, reinforcing pilot data. The same pattern is visible in Burkina Faso, where the vaccine has been introduced and expanded nationwide to all 70 health districts,” the organisation added.
Additionally, Gavi disclosed that its assessment and that of WHO showed that HPV vaccines “have helped avert” close to one million cervical cancer deaths in 29 African countries as of 2024, while some of the 25 countries that provide the malaria vaccine are reporting strong early impact, such as reduced severe disease and hospitalisation.
