Despite crisis, UK keeps pledge on global vaccination program

British Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged $1.3 billion in extra funding to help vaccinate poor children against preventable diseases like pneumonia.
The Global Alliance on Vaccines says four million lives can be saved over four years if the world's developed nations contribute $3.7 billion in extra funds by 2015.
The UK has already committed £2bn ($3.25bn) over 30 years - more than any other nation by some distance.
Cameron, who has faced criticism in Britain for ring-fencing international aid at a time when domestic spending is being slashed to cut a gaping budget deficit, made the promise at a conference in London where entrepreneur Bill Gates also said he will commit $1bn.
More donors, including the United States, France, Germany, Japan and others, are expected to add their pledges later on Monday in an effort to stump up an extra $3.7 billion that GAVI
needs to fund its programmes though to 2015.

The World Health Organisation considers vaccination to be "one of the most successful and cost-effective public health interventions". It estimates that between two and three million
deaths are averted each year through immunisation.

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