A global stockpile of emergency vaccines has been credited with saving an estimated 6 million lives and averting $32 billion in economic benefits over the past two decades, according to a recent study.
The Gavi vaccine alliance’s stockpile, which includes oral cholera, Ebola, meningitis, and yellow fever vaccines, has been instrumental in responding to outbreaks around the world. The stockpile aims to provide more than 5 million doses of vaccine at any given time, although it has struggled to meet this target in the past.
Researchers have modeled over 200 outbreaks since 2004 and found that the stockpile resulted in a 60% reduction in cases and deaths from these outbreaks. This means that approximately 300,000 lives were saved, as well as millions of cases avoided.
The study’s findings come at a critical time, as global health funding is at an all-time low. The Gavi vaccine alliance is facing significant financial challenges, with its budget goal for the next five years falling short by almost $3 billion.
Experts say that the stockpile is essential in preventing outbreaks from spreading and saving lives. “If we don’t want some of these diseases to come to our shores, we really need to contain them at the source,” says Dr. Ruth Karron, director of the Johns Hopkins Vaccine Initiative.
However, maintaining the stockpile poses challenges, including the risk of vaccine expiration and the need for efficient distribution systems. Despite these challenges, experts agree that the benefits of having a global stockpile far outweigh the costs.
“The clear answer from this study is that it’s in everyone’s interest to keep the emergency vaccine stockpiles fully stocked,” says Karron.
Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/07/21/nx-s1-5468569/vaccine-stockpiles-cholera-ebola-meningitis-emergency