Melissa Parke (Fremantle, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I recently met with RESULTS International (Australia), on behalf of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. One and a half million children die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases, with one-in-five children worldwide not fully immunised with basic vaccines. Through Gavi's tireless work, nearly half a billion additional children have been vaccinated to date.

As a major purchaser, Gavi provides low-cost vaccines and support to countries that have a high burden of disease, reaching children in some of the most remote communities in countries such as Nepal, Solomon Islands and Myanmar. This highly sustainable model, which relies on countries co-investing, has huge potential, with 60 per cent of all births occurring in Gavi-supported countries.

Immunisation, one of the most effective health interventions, not only saves millions of lives each year, but it transforms them. It is certainly no secret that better health leads to better education and a stronger economy. It is key to alleviating global poverty and achieving the sustainable development goals. However, despite an increase in investment for new vaccines, there is an urgent need for greater focus on effective delivery methods. Improving the cold chain capacity, to ensure vaccines are delivered and administered at safe temperatures, will avoid waste and ensure more children receive effective lifesaving vaccines. I commend the government for contributing $250 million at the replenishment conference, but ask it to increase bilateral aid investments in improved cold chain distribution. We have the ability and the obligation to ensure that every child, irrespective of geography and financial situation, is protected from preventable death.