Strengthening health systems’ resilience through immunization

The Merck Foundation (“Foundation”) is supporting the United Nations (UN) Foundation’s new Outbreak Prevention and Preparedness Fund (“Fund”) to provide urgent support to low- and middle-income countries to strengthen global immunization efforts and better prevent, detect and respond to vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) outbreaks.

Immunization rates in low- and middle-income countries have continued to slow down as a result of the pandemic, humanitarian crises, reduced access to vaccines and other challenges.¹ Consequently, outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles, poliovirus and diphtheria continue to rise. Children ages five and under are especially vulnerable, given that over 14 million children globally in 2023 had not received a single dose of any vaccine.²

The Foundation has committed $2 million over two years (2024-2026) to the UN Foundation’s new pooled Fund to help bridge gaps in funding and support countries with the resources needed to respond urgently and prevent VPD outbreaks from escalating. The initiative will prioritize un- and under-vaccinated children ages five and under living in countries who may not be eligible for existing funding mechanisms.

This initiative will support a broader UN Foundation collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and local Ministries of Health to protect vulnerable populations and enhance health systems’ resilience through immunization.

¹ World Health Organization. Global childhood immunization levels stalled in 2023, leaving many without life-saving protection.

² World Health Organization. Immunization coverage 2023.