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International donors have pledged to give $7.5 billion to help fund vaccines that will stop the premature deaths of up to six million children in some of the world鈥檚 poorest countries.

The extra money, which will let countries immunise an extra 300 million children from diseases and illnesses such as pneumonia and measles, was promised at the 聽(Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) in Berlin.

GaviI says 500 million children have been reached with lifesaving vaccines in the 15 years since the public-private partnership was launched聽to improve childhood immunisation coverage in poor countries. It estimates seven million lives have been saved as a result.

The extra funding announced on January 27 will also mean millions of immunised children will remain healthy and be able to stay in school and complete their education.

Among the new donations were a pledge from the United Kingdom of $1.57 billion for 2016 to 2020, while the promised $1.55 billion. Norway is offering $969 million, the United States $800 million and Germany $720 million.聽China, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia made pledges to Gavi for the first time.

Gavi was set up with the help of a $750 million five-year pledge from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Bill Gates was at the Berlin conference, where he said: 鈥淭oday is a great day for children in the world鈥檚 poorest countries who will now receive the life-saving vaccines they need.鈥�

In her speech, Norway鈥檚 prime minister Erna Solberg said:聽鈥淗ealth and education are key factors for children to reach their full potential. Educated mothers are more likely to have their children vaccinated. Healthy children are more likely to perform at school. Economic growth is built on health and education. Human resources is the backbone of wealthy societies.鈥�

In their , Bill and Melinda Gates predicted child deaths will be halved by 2030 because of vaccines, sanitation and other improvements. In their section on education, they also wrote: 鈥淓ducation is a great leveller. But if the factors that hold girls back are not addressed, and if access to education isn鈥檛 equal, then education will become another cause of inequity, rather than a cure for it.

鈥淭his is especially important because when a young woman gets an education, it has a powerful ripple effect. As an adult, she鈥檒l earn more money. If she has children, they will be twice as likely to live past the age of five. Her daughters will be twice as likely to go to school themselves.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no way to get around the fact that more girls need to be in good schools, and for longer. But online education will open up new opportunities for girls with the means and motivation to take advantage of it.

鈥淎s the cost goes down and incomes go up, more people will have the means, and we鈥檒l be well on our way to providing high-quality education for everyone.鈥�

Read a on how the vaccines pledging can show the way for the global education movement.