- The U.S. may halt all funding to Gavi, jeopardizing global vaccination efforts.
- Experts warn this could lead to 1.3 million preventable child deaths.
- Gavi’s CEO is lobbying in Washington to reverse the decision.
The U.S. has been a key donor to Gavi, providing 15% of its funding. A sudden withdrawal of support could cripple immunization programs in the world’s poorest countries, leaving millions of children vulnerable to deadly diseases.
Beyond childhood immunizations, Gavi plays a critical role in global health security by maintaining emergency vaccine stockpiles and responding to outbreaks.
Global Health at Risk: Trump’s Vaccine Cuts Spark Alarm
The leaked U.S. plan to cut Gavi’s funding has sent shockwaves through the global health community. If finalized, this decision could leave 75 million children unvaccinated and cause over a million deaths from preventable diseases. Gavi, historically supported by both U.S. political parties, now faces an uphill battle to secure alternative funding.
African health officials are already bracing for the fallout. Gavi plays a crucial role in distributing vaccines across the continent, preventing outbreaks of diseases like measles and polio. Without U.S. financial support, many immunization programs may be scaled back or halted altogether.
The consequences extend beyond direct child mortality. Weakened vaccination efforts could lead to a resurgence of infectious diseases, placing additional strain on already struggling healthcare systems. In an interconnected world, these outbreaks could spread beyond vulnerable countries, affecting global health security.
Bill Gates, whose foundation is a key Gavi donor, emphasized that cutting U.S. support will make disease outbreaks more frequent and harder to contain. Gavi’s CEO is now in Washington, trying to convince policymakers to reconsider, but the future of U.S. funding remains uncertain.
If the U.S. withdraws its support, millions of lives will be at risk, and global health stability could be severely impacted. The decision now rests in the hands of policymakers, whose choices will shape the future of disease prevention worldwide.
“Since its creation, Gavi has been critical in cutting childhood deaths in half.” – Bill Gates
