Some 23 million children missed out on vaccinations in 2020, the highest number since 2009and 3.7 million more than in 2019.
That's why the Coca-Cola Foundation and Project Last Mile are teaming up with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, "to improve vaccine delivery systems via Gavi's INFUSE platform," per a press release.
"It then 'infuses' the innovations with capital and expertise to help take them to scale," says Marie-Ange Saraka-Yao, managing director of the Global Environment & Technology Foundation, which is administering Project Last Mile.
The platform, which was launched in 2000, "helps improve vaccine delivery systems by connecting high impact, proven innovations with the countries that need them most," per Saraka-Yao.
Project Last Mile will use its Coca-Cola expertise to help innovators scale solutions that improve access, availability, and uptake of vaccines, including but not limited to COVID-19 vaccines.
"We believe the private sector and innovations are playing an ever-growing role in safeguarding immunization systems against further shocks," Saraka-Yao says.
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New Collaboration And Investment Scales Up Innovation To Improve Vaccine Delivery