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World vaccine funding summit seeks donations in London Cameron pledges more money to fund child vaccines
(40 minutes later)
  
Countries meeting in London are to be asked to give an extra £2.3bn ($3.7bn) by 2015 to fund vaccines against two of the biggest killers of children - pneumonia and diarrhoeal disease. UK Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged £814m to help vaccinate children around the world against preventable diseases like pneumonia.
The Global Alliance on Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi) says the money could help save 4m lives in four years. He made the announcement at a summit in London where countries are being asked to give an extra £2.3bn ($3.7bn) by 2015 for child vaccines.
Its conference is being led by UK Prime Minister David Cameron and Microsoft tycoon Bill Gates. The Global Alliance on Vaccines and Immunisation says this could help save four million lives in four years.
Mr Cameron will pledge to increase UK funding for global vaccination. The UK has already committed more, £2bn over 30 years, than any other nation.
The UK has already committed more resources - £2bn over 30 years - than any other nation, including the US. The extra £814m comes on top of the UK's existing commitment of £680m pounds between 2011 and 2015.
Hosting the conference alongside Mr Cameron, Microsoft tycoon Bill Gates said the US would be pledging $1bn to help the campaign.
'Expertise''Expertise'
But on Sunday, href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/jun/11/david-cameron-international-aid-vaccine" >writing in the Observer newspaper, Mr Cameron said there was a moral reason why action should be taken to prevent children dying from common diseases. Mr Cameron said there was a "strong moral case" for keeping pledges Britain had made to the developing world, no matter the economic circumstances at home.
"We would not stand for that at home. And we should not stand for it anywhere, especially as Britain has the tools, the expertise, and yes, the money, to stop it happening." "Today we come together because we have the chance to save another four million lives."
He said the idea of children dying from pneumonia and diarrhoea should be "unthinkable" in 2011.
"To those who say fine but we should put off seeing through those promises to another day because right now we can't afford to help: I say - we can't afford to wait."
Two million under-fives die from pneumonia alone each year despite the existence of a vaccine to protect them.Two million under-fives die from pneumonia alone each year despite the existence of a vaccine to protect them.
Organisers of the conference say the lives of an about four million children rest on the outcome of the gathering.
It is estimated that three times as many children aged under five die from pneumonia and diarrhoea than from malaria and HIV/Aids combined, despite new vaccines being available to help prevent such deaths. However, many developing countries cannot afford them.It is estimated that three times as many children aged under five die from pneumonia and diarrhoea than from malaria and HIV/Aids combined, despite new vaccines being available to help prevent such deaths. However, many developing countries cannot afford them.
Drugs company GlaxoSmithKline last week agreed to sell a vaccine for diarrhoeal disease at cost price to poorer nations, and some other firms have since made similar moves.Drugs company GlaxoSmithKline last week agreed to sell a vaccine for diarrhoeal disease at cost price to poorer nations, and some other firms have since made similar moves.
Gavi has already rolled out a range of vaccines to children in 19 countries but the organisation says it has not got the £2.3bn needed to vaccinate those in 26 others.Gavi has already rolled out a range of vaccines to children in 19 countries but the organisation says it has not got the £2.3bn needed to vaccinate those in 26 others.
This leaves the lives of four million children at risk, it says.This leaves the lives of four million children at risk, it says.
Resources will also be spent on trying to reach millions of the poorest children who are missing out on basic vaccines against diseases such as measles, whooping cough and tetanus.Resources will also be spent on trying to reach millions of the poorest children who are missing out on basic vaccines against diseases such as measles, whooping cough and tetanus.
Gavi is a health partnership of governments, businesses, and bodies including the World Bank, Unicef and Mr Gates' personal foundation.Gavi is a health partnership of governments, businesses, and bodies including the World Bank, Unicef and Mr Gates' personal foundation.
'Make-or-break''Make-or-break'
Ahead of Monday's conference, the philanthropist said: "This is my life's work, and days like tomorrow energise us to do even better. I think a success would create incredible momentum.Ahead of Monday's conference, the philanthropist said: "This is my life's work, and days like tomorrow energise us to do even better. I think a success would create incredible momentum.
"I know that the whole image of aid can be saved if people know it's about saving lives.""I know that the whole image of aid can be saved if people know it's about saving lives."
The Save the Children charity says the leaders at the conference have a "make-or-break opportunity".The Save the Children charity says the leaders at the conference have a "make-or-break opportunity".
Chief executive Justin Forsyth said: "We are on the cusp of an historic breakthrough that would save millions of lives.Chief executive Justin Forsyth said: "We are on the cusp of an historic breakthrough that would save millions of lives.
"We have new vaccines to tackle appalling common childhood killers like diarrhoea and more children than ever are getting immunised against illnesses like whooping cough. But without pledges, that incredible progress could stall.""We have new vaccines to tackle appalling common childhood killers like diarrhoea and more children than ever are getting immunised against illnesses like whooping cough. But without pledges, that incredible progress could stall."