Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has announced that Japan will contribute $550 million over five years to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which supports immunization efforts in developing countries. The pledge was conveyed during a meeting with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who leads the Gates Foundation, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo. Tetsuo Saito, leader of Komeito, the coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, also attended the meeting and shared details of the discussion.
The official announcement of Japan’s commitment is scheduled to be made at the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), which opened in Yokohama on Wednesday and will continue for three days. The conference serves as a platform to strengthen partnerships between Japan and African nations on issues of development and cooperation.
Bill Gates expressed gratitude for Japan’s donation and emphasized his commitment to deepening collaboration with the country in the field of global health. The contribution further underscores Japan’s role in supporting international initiatives aimed at improving healthcare and expanding vaccine access.
Gavi, established in 2000, is a global health alliance that brings together public institutions, including the World Health Organization, and private organizations such as the Gates Foundation. Its mission is to improve vaccine coverage and ensure equitable access to immunization in low- and middle-income countries.
