Investment In Immunisation Can Be Massive Healthcare Cost Savings In Future — Okonjo Iweala

 

The Chairman of GAVI board, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has revealed that for every dollar spent on childhood immunisation, nations will save $16 in healthcare costs, lost wages and lost productivity due to illness.

 

She said if governments take into account the full value people place on living longer, there would be a further increased return on investment to as much as $44.

 

Okonjo-Iweala who is  Nigeria’s former Coordinating Minister for Economy and Minister of Finance in Nigeria, stated this during an interview with a Japanese radio station, NHK, saying with more than 30 vaccine doses administered worldwide every second, immunisation was already recognised as one of the most cost-effective health interventions.

 

According to her, over 1.5 million children are still dying from vaccine preventable diseases because of lack of political will, particularly from finance ministers, “ and because of lack of understanding within governments that vaccines aren’t just good value for money, but are an investment.

 

“In addition, there is a widespread assumption within governments and beyond that childhood mortality is a matter only for health ministers. In reality, it has implications for just about every aspect of government. Preventing illness through immunisation can have a huge impact in helping to contribute to the social and economic well-being of individuals, families, communities and countries,” she added.