Dar es Salaam , Tanzania ( CNN ) -- We all know that vaccines save lives by protecting people against disease . What is less well-known is that vaccines also are an engine for economic growth -- far beyond their health benefits . I am reminded of this in Tanzania this week , where my organization , the GAVI Alliance , is hosting a conference for its partners . GAVI 's mission is to save children 's lives and protect people 's health by increasing access to immunization in developing countries . We do n't do this alone . We have many partners , including prominent companies that work closely with GAVI . They recognize that in addition to the humanitarian need , countries such as Tanzania are emerging markets that can fulfill their economic ambitions only if they also can ensure good health for their citizens . The private sector is a critical part of the equation . Our corporate partners know they can do well by doing good . Consider Tanzania . It has an ambitious five-year development plan that aims to transform the country into a middle-income economy by 2025 . The plan includes critical funding to ensure a healthy population by strengthening the health system , which will significantly improve child and maternal mortality rates . Tanzania already has begun this process by working closely with GAVI and its partners to significantly increase its routine vaccine coverage rates to above 90 % today from 79 % in 2001 , the year before GAVI began its work there , according to data from the World Health Organization and UNICEF . At the same time , Tanzania 's GDP growth has been astounding , rising to $ 23.7 billion last year from $ 10.2 billion in 2001 , according to the World Bank . See also : Trekking savannah to deliver vaccines . Is there a connection ? Further study is needed in the case of Tanzania . But we know for a fact that vaccines -- in addition to saving lives and improving health -- are the cornerstone of a vibrant economy , fuel growth and serve as a magnet for foreign investment . Indeed , research has shown vaccines to be among the most cost-effective investments in global development . This has been borne out of several independent studies that look beyond the health impacts toward areas such as cognitive development , educational attainment , labor productivity and financial attainment . In other words , healthier children -- spurred by immunization -- attend school more often , learn more while they are there and remain in school longer . As adults , they therefore are more productive , earn more money , save and invest more , and live longer . Healthier children also spread less disease through the adult population , further increasing productivity . See also : Fighting cancer with cell phones : Innovation to save lives in Africa . These academic papers , including one recently published that focuses on how to measure the economic benefits of the HPV vaccine , are getting noticed in African countries -- not only by health ministers , but also by finance ministers and other officials . For instance , I attended a landmark meeting in Tunis in July organized by the African Development Bank , where its President Donald Kaberuka brought together a variety of ministers and experts to discuss how to allocate budgets and make healthcare a national priority . I was in Tunis because of the wide recognition that immunization can be the high-octane fuel that leads to increased trade , capital infrastructure projects and technological improvement . This brings me back to the private sector and the benefits many companies now see in playing a role in supporting global health , including immunization services . One benefit , of course , is humanitarian . The GAVI Alliance -- with help from partners such as UNICEF , WHO , the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation , the World Bank and donors -- has helped countries immunize 370 million people , saving more than 5.5 million lives since 2000 . GAVI now is in the midst of helping immunize another quarter billion people , which could save an additional 4 million lives by 2015 . The private sector is involved , providing core business skills to tackle key obstacles to immunization in the developing world . For example , GAVI is working with a leading telecommunications company to explore the use of its mobile technology with hopes of improving vaccine stock management in implementing countries and alerting parents when children are due for vaccines . GAVI is constantly looking for partners to lend their business savvy to help us accomplish our mission . An increasing number of them are responding , compassionate in their outlook while aware of the underlying economic value of vaccines . They understand that this is the highest return on investment they could ever make . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Seth Berkley .
`` Vaccines the cornerstone of a vibrant economy , '' says Seth Berkley . Healthier children attend school more and are more productive as adults . GAVI Alliance aims to increas access to immunization in developing countries . Private sector providing business skills to tackle obstacles to immunization , says Berkley .