The United States has abruptly withdrawn its financial support from Gavi, the global vaccine alliance, a move announced by US Health Minister Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy justified the decision by alleging that Gavi “ignores science” and has “lost public trust,” demanding accountability for the $8 billion America has contributed since 2001. He also raised concerns about Gavi and the WHO’s alleged collaboration with social media companies during the COVID-19 pandemic to suppress differing viewpoints and restrict free expression. This dramatic shift comes despite Gavi’s reported success in vaccinating over a billion children and saving an estimated 18 million lives globally.
Gavi’s CEO, Sania Nishtar, expressed disappointment over the US withdrawal, which historically covered around 13% of the alliance’s budget. Despite this setback, Gavi secured €7.7 billion at a recent donor conference, though this sum is less than the €10.9 billion needed to protect 500 million children over the next five years. In a contrasting move, Germany pledged €600 million, with its Development Minister reaffirming a strong commitment to global health and vaccination, highlighting it as the most efficient way to save lives and prevent worldwide pandemics, even as other nations retract their support.
