Founded in 2000, Gavi’s mission is to provide equal access to life-saving vaccines globally.
More than 20 million children still don’t have access to vaccines just because of where they’re born – and it is this inequity that it vouches to tackle. Having already helped immunize more than a billion children around the world against 20 infectious diseases, it has now set out a new plan to protect 500 million children between 2026 and 2030.
With “The Starting Line” campaign, Gavi aims to raise awareness about global vaccine inequity today. It highlights that children around the world face unequal starts in life, in part due to unequal access to vaccines.
The campaign enlists five world-class athletes who reflect on their journey to the starting line, what it takes to be a champion, and the importance of all children getting a fair start.
Sir Mo Farah
“My childhood dream was to become Olympic champion one day,” Sir Mo Farah begins. With four gold medals achieved over two Olympics, he’s lauded as one of the greatest long-distance runners of all time.
While he attributes this immense success to the support system that exists around him, his start in life wasn’t as eminent. Born in Somaliland, where access to essential vaccines isn’t universal, he reflects on how the starting line isn’t the same for all children, especially in his birth country, expressing, “In sport we demand fairness. But why not in life?”
Ada Hegerberg
For Norwegian footballer Ada Hegerberg, her starting line came from “very strong parents that showed me the way.”
Paving a lane for young women in football through her boundary-breaking career, Hegerberg was the first woman to ever win the Ballon d’Or alongside six Champions League titles, making her one of the best footballers of the generation. “It was an incredibly powerful moment. Not just for me, but for all girls who play football,” she recalls.
Reflecting on the opportunities we get early on in life, Hegerberg understands that “If we are to bring about a change, it’s very important that children get an equal start in life and we focus collectively on it.” It’s essential vaccines that protect children from preventable diseases in their early years of life, but challenges still exist: “The lack of access; and lack of knowledge and understanding.” Yet, Ada still has hope that “the more we talk about it, the more possibilities we hand over to the next generation.”
Junior Bosila Banya
When it comes to lane pavers and adversity overcomers, look no further than France’s Junior Bosila Banya aka B-Boy Junior. Revered for his acrobatic ability and complex breaking techniques, the self-taught breakdancer established his unique style by freestyling in his bedroom at a young age.
Bosila Banya, however, overcame extreme adversity at a young age. Having contracted polio in his birth country of The Democratic Republic of the Congo, he relocated to France at age five where he was raised. “I often say I had a hard time being considered as someone ordinary. So then I became someone extraordinary,” he explains, which perfectly encapsulates his perseverance in not letting his disability hinder his dreams.
The global incidence of polio has decreased by 99.9% due to vaccinations, and the breakdancer’s firsthand experiences are pivotal to understanding the importance of vaccine accessibility — hence why he expresses the need for all children to receive the same opportunities regardless of where they are. “It’s important that everyone has the same chance in health to live a better life,” he says. “I would have liked to be vaccinated against poliomyelitis when I should have.”
Laure Manaudou
Having a good start can positively shape your life, and your career. Born to a badminton player mother and handball player father, competitive sport was always written in French swimmer Laure Manaudou’s destiny. “The self-confidence, being a professional from the start, and believing in your dreams” is something that was instilled during her formative years.
The turning point was watching the Olympics in 2000 which ignited her passion to be a champion. With accolades including three Olympic medals in 2004 at just 18 years old, as well as two gold medals at the 2007 World Championships, Manaudou was named World Swimmer of the Year alongside with Michael Phelps.
Equal access to life-saving vaccines on a global scale means leveling the playing field so “we truly all have the same start.” And, as a mother, she acknowledges her privilege of access, and that of her children, so she advocates for their children, as well as children elsewhere, to have the same opportunities.
Robert Pirès
“I think I was born under a lucky star,” says iconic footballer Robert Pirès. “As football has brought me a lot of things: stability, getting to know myself, getting to know others and working with others.”
From winning the World Cup in 1998 and EURO 2000 with France before being one of Arsenal’s most beloved players, Pirès is acutely aware that his start in life is what shaped his bright future. While good fortunes — such as his birthplace, his family’s support, and access to opportunities — play a factor in his successes, he expresses that we shouldn’t be so ready to rely on chance when it comes to living a healthy life.
“Let’s not let luck determine their fate,” he says. As more than 20 million children globally missed out on life-saving vaccines just last year due to the chance of where they’re born, equal access to vaccines can change this.
To join the conversation and see where you fit on the starting line, visit The Starting Line website.
