Billion dollar injection.

Nearly one billion is being injected into life-saving vaccines and health services in developing countries as a result of the bond issuance by the International Finance Facility for Immunization (IFFIm) one year ago--the first such bond issuance with its proceeds provided to countries as grants for a specific development purpose.

Of the initial US$ 1 billion raised from the November 2006 bond launch, the net proceeds of which, $995 million is being spent on immunisation and health programmes; $912 million of this was spent in 2007 in 43 of the world's poorest countries.

"This ground breaking way of raising aid money has brought tremendous health gains in its first year," said IFFIm Board Chairman Alan Gillespie. "It has uniquely boosted countries' existing immunization programmes, funded the demand and development of easier-to-administer combination vaccines, and has been flexible in response to urgent immunization needs."

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has achieved impressive gains in immunization over the last five years. DTP 3 coverage has increased from 49% in 2003 to 77% in 2006, and yellow fever vaccine coverage increased from 29% in 2003 to 74 % in the same period. This is a substantial accomplishment given the context of war and civil unrest. It is also a triumph over the challenges related to bringing vaccines to the different corners of this vast and partly inaccessible countrywhich has a weak infrastructure and continuing conflict in the north-east regions.

IFFlm funds have supported this impressive coverage increase with close to $8 million disbursed for new vaccines. A further $21 million will shortly be disbursed for health system strengthening, facilitating sustained coverage increase.

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