Children's Challenge, New Worldwide Initiative to Conquer Vaccine-Preventable Diseases to be Launched at World Economic Forum in Davos Global organizations, businesses and government will join Gates-backed effort to ensure universal child immunization; pledge to reduce the nearly 3 million vaccine-preventable children's deaths annually DAVOS, Switzerland/ Jan 27 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/-- The world's leading economic forum will be the setting for the launch of a public health and economic development initiative of unprecedented scope. With the goal of universal childhood immunization, the effort will enlist leaders from all sectors who will take the stage at Davos, Switzerland to pledge their support. WHEN: Monday, 31 January, announcement session/panel discussion 15:15 (ECT) (or 14:15 GMT); press briefing to immediately follow at 16:30 (ECT) WHERE: Announcement Session/Panel Discussion -- Kongress Centre Press Briefing -- Press Briefing Room WHO: Announcement Session/Panel Discussion Participants: * Carol Bellamy, Executive Director, United Nations Children's Fund * Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director-General, World Health Organization * Joaquim Chissano, President of Mozambique * Bill Gates, Co-founder, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation * Raymond Gilmartin, President and CEO, Merck; member, International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (IFPMA) * James Wolfensohn, President, World Bank Group Current Press Briefing Participants: * Bill Gates * Carol Bellamy * Jean-Jacques Bertrand, CEO and Chairman, Aventis Pasteur, member IFPMA * Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland * James Wolfensohn ACCESS: * Press briefing open to WEF credentialed journalists and selected invitees; access to announcement session/panel discussion is limited per WEF guidelines * Webcasting - real time webcast of announcement session/panel discussion and press briefing can be accessed at www.weforum.org (select "Webcast") or via GAVI Website below; archived webcast can be accessed at same site for one year after event * GAVI website www.VaccineAlliance.org to be fully accessible on January 31 * Advance Press Materials available upon request via contacts listed above * VIDEO NEWS RELEASE/SOTs and B-ROLL Satellite Feed Coordinates 2030-2045 GMT C-Band Telstar 6 Transponder 11; KU-BAND Telstar 5 Transponder 25 (Re-Feed) 2230-2245 GMT C-Band Telstar 6 Transponder 11; KU-BAND Telstar 5 Transponder 25 THIS WILL ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE ON THE REUTERS WORLD NEWS SERVICE FROM 2030-2045 GMT GAVI Media Center in Davos, 29 January - 1 February at Turmhotel Victoria, Napoleon Room, +41 (081) 417 53 00 CONTACT: Liza Barrie, 001-917-415-2489 (fr. Switzerland) 1-917-415-2489 (fr. US); Stacey Harris, 212-922-2658 (NYC) or [email protected]; Lisa Jacobs, GAVI Secretariat, 41-22-909-50-42 (Geneva) or [email protected]; all for GAVI. SOURCE Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization Web site: http://www.weforum.org http://www.VaccineAlliance.org