Germany Gives Extra ?14 Million to Fund Child Immunizations; Gates Foundation to Match It

Thursday, April 7, 2011

BERLIN – The German government says it is providing an extra €14 million ($19.9 million) in funding for child immunization in the developing world as part of an agreement with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Development Aid Ministry says the Gates foundation will match the €14 million funding of projects overseen by the Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunization. It also will match any further pledges Germany makes over the next two years.

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on Wednesday signed a wider agreement with Development Aid Minister Dirk Niebel aimed at ensuring closer co-operation between the German government and his foundation.

The funding for vaccination projects comes on top of Germany’s regular funding of GAVI, currently at €6 million per year.

Source: The Canadian Press (link opens in a new window)