MASSIVE AID CUTS: US to Stop Funding for Global Vaccine Alliance, Gavi

The United States government has announced plans to end its funding for Gavi, a global vaccine alliance that provides vaccines for millions of people worldwide.

 This move is part of a larger effort to cut international aid programs, with a total of 5,341 awards set to be cancelled, amounting to nearly $76 billion in cuts.

Gavi, which has facilitated vaccinations that have saved an estimated 19 million children’s lives across developing nations, will lose a significant portion of its funding.

The US had been Gavi’s largest single contributor, responsible for 13% of its funding, with a grant valued at $2.6 billion through 2030.

However, the Trump administration has stated that it will continue supporting grants for HIV and tuberculosis treatment, as well as food aid programs for countries affected by civil conflicts and natural disasters.

The document, first reported by The New York Times, underscores a broader restructuring of U.S. foreign aid commitments.

“Each award terminated was reviewed individually for alignment with agency and administration priorities,” a State Department spokesperson said, adding that only programs deemed essential to U.S. national interests would be retained.

Gavi, which receives around $300m annually from the U.S., warned that the funding cut could have devastating consequences.

“If we don’t get U.S. support, that translates into 1.2 million deaths over the next five years,” the alliance’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Sania Nishtar, told Reuters.

She warned that children would be left vulnerable to deadly diseases like measles and diphtheria without continued financial support.

Nishtar and Gavi’s board chair, José Manuel Barroso, are scheduled to visit Washington next week to lobby for the continuation of U.S. funding.

“We hope that a final decision has not been made,”* she said, describing Gavi as a “best buy” in global health, given its role in saving children’s lives and strengthening global health security.

Beyond routine immunization efforts, Gavi maintains emergency vaccine stockpiles for outbreaks of diseases such as Ebola and yellow fever.

The alliance also assists countries in transitioning away from donor dependency as their economies grow.

On her official X handle, Nishtar described the U.S. as “one of Gavi’s oldest and strongest partners.”

“Together, we have helped cut child mortality in half, immunised a whole generation of children, and helped keep our world safe,” she wrote.

She also reaffirmed Gavi’s commitment to securing new funding and immunizing an additional 500 million children over the next five years.

“With your support, Gavi will keep delivering on its mission, protecting the world with our stockpiles for Ebola, mpox, and yellow fever vaccines, and generating huge returns on investment for our donors,”she added.