mumbai over 300 global leaders health and development experts philanthropists and business leaders will gather in abu dhabi on april 24 in the first global vaccine summit to endorse the critical role that vaccines and immunization play in giving children a healthy start to lifedespite tremendous progress one child still dies every 20 seconds from preventable diseases like pneumonia rotavirus measles and meningitisthe summit focused on the power of vaccines is being held during world immunization week april 2430 to continue the momentum of the decade of vaccines a vision and commitment to reach all people with the vaccines they needending polio is a critical milestone in this vision bill gates cochair of the bill melinda gates foundation will deliver a keynote to celebrate progress and honour the individuals communities partners and nations that have made success possible vaccines work to save lives and protect children for a lifetime said bill gates cochair of the bill melinda gates foundation by investing in stronger immunization systems we can protect our gains against polio and reach mothers and children with other health servicesthe world is coming together around the global vaccine action plan endorsed by nearly 200 countries last may to develop better and more affordable vaccines and deliver them through stronger routine immunization systems