Abu Dhabi, UAE – December 8, 2025: Global leaders and philanthropists, including Bill Gates, pledged $1.9 billion to accelerate the fight against polio, yet a $440 million funding shortfall remains due to reductions in foreign aid from high-income countries.

The announcement came during a pledging event hosted by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a public-private partnership led by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Gates Foundation, Rotary International, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), UNICEF, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The initiative aims to eradicate polio worldwide by 2029.

Funding Challenges

The GPEI has faced a 30% budget reduction for 2026 following declines in official development assistance. Countries like the United Kingdom and Germany have cut funding, while the U.S. had previously halted contributions to Gavi and exited the WHO earlier this year.

Ally Rogers, GPEI spokesperson, emphasized the urgency:

“Without the full $6.9 billion needed and sustained political commitment, children will be left unprotected, and eradication efforts could be hindered.”

Impact of the Donations

The $1.9 billion will support the vaccination of 370 million children annually and strengthen local health systems, protecting children from polio and other preventable diseases.

Bill Gates called the initiative “99.9% of the way there” and stressed the importance of continued vaccination:

“Nothing has saved as many lives as vaccines. The last stretch demands the same determination that got us this far.”

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged all countries and donors to increase support:

“We are on the cusp of eradicating polio and securing a historic win for humanity.”

Current Polio Status

Polio, a virus affecting the central nervous system, can cause paralysis and death. Once paralyzing over 350,000 children annually, wild poliovirus now persists only in Afghanistan and Pakistan, though outbreaks of variant strains threaten 18 other countries.

Since 1988, the GPEI estimates billions of children have been protected, reducing polio cases by more than 99% worldwide.

Major Donors

Key pledges included:

• Gates Foundation – $1.2 billion
• Governments of Pakistan, Germany, U.S., Japan, Luxembourg
• Rotary International and Bloomberg Philanthropies
• Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity

Moving Forward

Polio eradication faces ongoing challenges, including misinformation, new virus variants, and funding shortfalls. Gates highlighted that even with partial U.S. funding cuts, efficiency and innovation could help maintain momentum, but a full restoration of aid is crucial to ensure the final eradication of polio.