GAVI plans to immunise 130 mn children in poor countries against pneumonia

Marking the first international World Pneumonia Day on November 2, the GAVI Alliance plans to immunise 130 million children in poor countries against pneumonia, the world’s leading child killer.

Pneumonia, a severe inflammation of the lungs usually caused by infection, is responsible for one in four child deaths, more than HIV/AIDs, malaria and measles combined. Each year, it kills approximately 1.8 million children under five years of age, making it the leading child killer. Despite its overwhelming toll, little attention and funding are given to it.