Vaccines for Children -Make a call--Save a life
Anne Child
Would you be willing to make a brief phone call to our Texas Senators' offices to ask their support for Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance? (The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gives the highest praise to Gavi and has contributed over $2.4 billion to it to date. RESULTS wants the US government to do its part as well!)
Calling your Senator will not cost you one penny, and will require only 5 minutes of your time, but your call could literally save the lives of children who, because they are poor, do not have access to basic vaccines for diseases such as measles and whooping cough.
Believe it or not, these common diseases often result in childhood death in poor countries because the children there have weakened immune systems due to insufficient diets.
Here’s all you have to do:
Call the DC office of Senator Cornyn at 202-224-2934
and the DC office of Senator Cruz at (202) 224-5922.
1.The receptionist will answer the phone, then simply tell her your name and city and say something like, “I have a request for Senator (Cornyn or Cruz). Will you give it to him for me?” The receptionist will respond “YES”
2.Then say something like “I would like the Senator to sign Senate Resolution 578 supporting vaccines for children. It has been introduced by two Republicans and two Democrats” Will you tell him that?
(She will not ask, but just in case she does, the two Republicans are Senators Rubio and Bozeman & the two Democrats are Senators Menendez and Coons.)
She will again respond, “YES I’ll deliver the message”.
Tell her “Thank you” , say “good bye” and then hang up, and call the second Senator..
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Call me if you have any question, and I'll be happy to talk with you;
THAT IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW, so if you only have 5 minutes, stop reading now, and call the first Senator!
Peace, Anne Child 512-919-9271
P.S. If you no longer want to receive this type of emails from me, simply send me an email to that effect and I’ll take you off the list.
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This part is for those who have more than 5 minutes, and want additional BACKGROUND:
Senate Resolution 578 is attached, and below is a brief summary of the resolution and some additional information. I also attached a list of donors so you can see what the U.S. has contributed to Gavi in the past. The UK is the largest donor; the U.S. is fourth. (The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is second, after the UK.)
The Senate Resolution praises the accomplishment of Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance which began in 2000. It is an organization consisting of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the United States, many other countries, nonprofit organizations, private businesses including the vaccine industry and others.
The goal of Gavi is to provide basic vaccines to children in poor countries against 11 common diseases like, measles, diphtheria, and whooping cough.
Since 2000 Gavi has immunized 440 million children and saved 6 million children’s lives.
Gavi has just announced a new goal of immunizing an additional 300 million children and adding two new vaccines against pneumonia and rotavirus which will result in saving 5 to 6 million lives over a span of 5 years.
The cost for this will be $7.5 billion spread over 4 years. The Senate Resolution supports the goal, and calls for the United States to continue its leadership role in accelerating the immunization of children. However, it does not mention a specific amount of funding for the U.S. Congress will determine the amount at a later date.
The Resolution has support from both parties and has been introduced by two Republican Senators (Rubio from Florida and Bozeman from Arkansas) and two Democrats (Menendez from New Jersey and Coons from Delaware). They are inviting their fellow Senators to join them.
Additional information:
Vaccines prevent disease from occurring in the first place, and are one of the most cost effective health initiatives that exist.
If Gavi reaches its new goal of immunizing 300 million more children with vaccines, including the two new ones against pneumonia and rotavirus, there will be an $80 to $100 billion economic benefit due to lower medical costs and increased productivity of healthier citizens. (Based on a report from Johns Hopkins.)
The Senate Resolution itself does not call for a specific amount for the U.S. pledge, but RESULTS and many other groups agree that $1billion is a reasonable goal for the U.S. and it will be spread over 4 years.
(The Gross Domestic Product of the U.S, is almost $17 trillion, and this is 20% of the world GDP of $75 trillion. Strictly speaking 20% of Gavi’s goal of $7.5 billion is $1.5 billion.)
Call me if you have any questions.
Peace,
Anne Child 512-919-9271