UK Government Urged to Renew Funding for Global Childhood Immunisation in Powerful Projections on Tower Bridge and Parliament

London, UK // Last night Global Citizen, the international advocacy organisation on a mission to end extreme poverty, lit up Tower Bridge and the Palace of Westminster with a powerful visual projection urging the UK Government to renew critical funding to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The activation marked the launch of a Europe-wide advocacy campaign ahead of next month’s Gavi replenishment summit, taking place in Brussels on June 25, aiming to protect 500 million children worldwide from preventable diseases by 2030. A strong pledge by the UK Government for Gavi will help save children’s lives, strengthen global health security and drive economic growth. For more than two decades, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has been one of the most cost-effective investments in global health but could be at risk due to major proposed cuts to the UK aid budget.

The projection featured visuals and messages demanding urgent UK government support for global immunisation efforts, highlighting that in 2023, 14.5 million “zero-dose” children received no vaccines at all. The projection coincides with UK campaigners taking part in a parliamentary lobby to speak out against the deadly UK aid cuts. This comes as more than 200,000 people have already joined Global Citizen’s campaign — signing petitions, sending messages, and directly calling on decision makers to act — reflecting growing public pressure for more ambitious UK leadership.

Over the past 25 years, Gavi has immunised over 1.1 billion children, stopped deadly diseases from spreading around the world, and saved almost 19 million lives. Gavi strengthens health care systems, drives economic growth, and helps protect the UK from future pandemics, boosting safety and security for all. 

New data from Adelphi Research* highlights strong UK public support for funding global childhood vaccinations;

• 70 per cent of the UK public believe that supporting better global access to vaccination is also good for the UK;
• 67 per cent of the UK public support access to vaccines in low-income countries;
• 76 per cent of Brits believe that protecting vulnerable children from deadly diseases improves millions of lives across the world.

“The British public understands the power of vaccines to save children’s lives around the world and protect the UK from deadly disease threats – and they expect their government to act,” said Michael Sheldrick, Co-Founder and Chief Policy, Impact and Government Affairs Officer, Global Citizen. “The UK has a long and proud legacy of leadership on immunisation through ground-breaking research and development, which gave the world malaria and Covid-19 vaccines, as well as political leadership and innovative financing. WithGavi’sreplenishmentfastapproaching,theUKmust stand alongside its international partners again. A strong pledge will help close deadly immunisation gaps, protect half a billion children, and reinforce the UK’s role in making the world—and itself—safer.”

Next month’s Gavi replenishment seeks to mobilize enough funding to reach an additional 500 million children by 2030, but this depends on securing strong international support, including from the UK. Every $1 invested in immunisation through Gavi brings $54 of economic benefits. A full pledge from the UK Government will ensure Gavi can protect more children from more diseases, faster than ever before.

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