His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, are co-hosting a vaccine summit in Abu Dhabi in April to continue momentum in the Decade of Vaccines, a vision and commitment to reach all children with the vaccines they need.
This summit will highlight the role that vaccines and immunization systems play in achieving global child health and development goals. Individuals and institutions with innovative approaches and demonstrated commitment across a broad spectrum of the vaccine enterprise will gather to renew their commitment to children and immunizations.
One of the most incredible examples of the power vaccines have to change the world is how close we are to declaring the world polio-free. India is now polio-free, outbreaks in previously polio-free countries have been stopped, and the number of polio cases in the world has dropped dramatically, leaving us with the fewest number of cases in the fewest districts in the fewest countries.
Being this close to final success, it is more important than ever that the world unites to fully fund the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s five-year plan to end polio. By strengthening systems while ending polio, we can ensure that children living in hard-to-reach places also benefit from other vaccines and additional life-saving interventions.
We’re holding the summit in Abu Dhabi to recognize the Middle Eastern and Islamic countries that are emerging as leaders in worldwide efforts to immunize children against polio and other diseases. This summit is only part of the work we must do to bring the benefits of immunization to everyone.