US halts funding to global group that provides vaccines to low-income countries
WASHINGTON — The United States will halt funding for a global organisation that provides vaccines to millions of children in lower-income countries, which comes after the most senior US health official said the group has 'ignored the science' on safety issues.
US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, a longtime vaccine sceptic and activist, said the country will not deliver on a $1.58 billion (€1.39 billion) pledge made by the previous Biden administration until GAVI – which procures and distributes jabs around the world – changes its approach to vaccine safety research and assessment.
'There is much that I admire about GAVI,' Kennedy said in video remarks. 'Unfortunately, in its zeal to promote universal vaccination, it has neglected the key issue of vaccine safety'.
He raised concerns about the safety of a vaccine used to protect infants against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, also known as whooping cough (DTP), which is a routine childhood immunization.
Kennedy cited a 2017 study from Danish researchers that found infants who received the type of DTP vaccine offered by GAVI were 10 times more likely to die from any cause than unvaccinated babies in their first six months of life – though other experts have since identified flaws in those findings.
GAVI hit back at some of Kennedy's comments, saying it had 'full confidence' in the DTP vaccine.GAVI said it offers the jab in lower-income countries because they have a much higher disease burden and are less well-equipped to offer regular booster doses than wealthy countries, which commonly use another version of the DTP vaccine that offers less long-lasting protection.The vaccine group had aimed to raise $9 billion (€7.9 billion) to fund its work over the next five years from international donors as part of its summit in Brussels this week, but reportedly fell short of that target.In an interview with Euronews ahead of the event – and Kennedy's announcement – GAVI chair and former European Commission President José Manuel Barroso had struck a more optimistic tone about the group's partnership with the US.'We are working constructively with this administration,' Barroso told Euronews.But he is also toeing a difficult line, navigating US leadership that has embraced vaccine conspiracy theories and slashed funding for global health programmes.Speaking broadly, Barroso said 'there are campaigns of disinformation' related to vaccines, particularly on social media.'What we have to do is to work with science and to give the facts,' he said. — Euronews
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Al Arabiya
3 days ago
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US Pulls Funding From Global Vaccines Group, Saying It Has 'Ignored the Science'
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the country is pulling its support from the vaccines alliance Gavi, saying the organization has ignored the science and lost the public trust. A video of Kennedy's speech was shown to participants at a Gavi meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, where the vaccines group was hoping to raise at least $9 billion for the next five years. Gavi is a public-private partnership including WHO, UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, and the World Bank. It has paid for more than 1 billion children to be vaccinated through routine immunization programs, saving an estimated 18 million lives. The US has long been one of its biggest supporters; before Trump's reelection, the country had pledged $1 billion through 2030. Kennedy called on Gavi to re-earn the public trust and to justify the $8 billion America has provided in funding since 2001, saying officials must consider the best science available, even when that science contradicts established paradigms. Kennedy said until that happens, the US won't contribute further to Gavi. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, said he and President Trump were concerned about how Gavi and the World Health Organization partnered together during the COVID-19 pandemic to work with social media companies to silence dissenting views, to stifle free speech and legitimate questions during a time when many people had questions about vaccine safety. Kennedy said Gavi continues to make questionable recommendations, like advising pregnant women to get immunized against COVID-19 and funding the roll-out of a vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis in poorer countries. WHO and other health authorities have recommended pregnant women get vaccinated against COVID-19, saying they are at higher risk of severe disease. Kennedy said he has seen research that concluded that young girls vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis were more likely to die from all other causes than children who weren't immunized. Gavi said in a statement Thursday that its utmost concern is the health and safety of children. The organization said any decision it makes on vaccines to buy is done in accordance with recommendations issued by WHO's expert vaccine group. 'This ensures Gavi investments are grounded in the best available science and public health priorities,' it said. Gavi said scientists had reviewed all available data, including any studies that raised concerns, and that the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine has played a key role in helping halve childhood mortality. The UK government said Wednesday it would give £1.25 billion ($1.7 billion) between 2026 and 2030 to Gavi. It said the money would help Gavi protect up to 500 million children in some of the world's poorest countries from diseases including meningitis, cholera, and measles.
Saudi Gazette
3 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
US halts funding to global group that provides vaccines to low-income countries
WASHINGTON — The United States will halt funding for a global organisation that provides vaccines to millions of children in lower-income countries, which comes after the most senior US health official said the group has 'ignored the science' on safety issues. US health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, a longtime vaccine sceptic and activist, said the country will not deliver on a $1.58 billion (€1.39 billion) pledge made by the previous Biden administration until GAVI – which procures and distributes jabs around the world – changes its approach to vaccine safety research and assessment. 'There is much that I admire about GAVI,' Kennedy said in video remarks. 'Unfortunately, in its zeal to promote universal vaccination, it has neglected the key issue of vaccine safety'. He raised concerns about the safety of a vaccine used to protect infants against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, also known as whooping cough (DTP), which is a routine childhood immunization. Kennedy cited a 2017 study from Danish researchers that found infants who received the type of DTP vaccine offered by GAVI were 10 times more likely to die from any cause than unvaccinated babies in their first six months of life – though other experts have since identified flaws in those findings. GAVI hit back at some of Kennedy's comments, saying it had 'full confidence' in the DTP said it offers the jab in lower-income countries because they have a much higher disease burden and are less well-equipped to offer regular booster doses than wealthy countries, which commonly use another version of the DTP vaccine that offers less long-lasting vaccine group had aimed to raise $9 billion (€7.9 billion) to fund its work over the next five years from international donors as part of its summit in Brussels this week, but reportedly fell short of that an interview with Euronews ahead of the event – and Kennedy's announcement – GAVI chair and former European Commission President José Manuel Barroso had struck a more optimistic tone about the group's partnership with the US.'We are working constructively with this administration,' Barroso told he is also toeing a difficult line, navigating US leadership that has embraced vaccine conspiracy theories and slashed funding for global health broadly, Barroso said 'there are campaigns of disinformation' related to vaccines, particularly on social media.'What we have to do is to work with science and to give the facts,' he said. — Euronews
Arab News
5 days ago
- Arab News
A fragmenting world can unite around immunization
We live in a world that seems increasingly fractured and prone to conflict. But experience in both the public and private sectors has taught me that periods of geopolitical unrest are precisely the moments when we should take a step back and consider what unites us. The ties that bind people together across borders, generations, and cultures must be celebrated and strengthened. Many of our differences and disagreements melt away when we recognize the simple truth that everyone wants the next generation to grow and thrive in a world that is safer, fairer, and more prosperous than the one they entered. The question is how to translate this universal instinct into concrete collective action. One answer that almost everyone can agree on is protecting children and communities through immunization. To show their commitment to this important cause, heads of state and government will convene in Brussels on June 25 for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance's Global Summit: Health & Prosperity through Immunization. With their pledges of support, Gavi — where I have chaired the board for the past five years — can continue preventing the spread of deadly and debilitating infectious diseases, especially among the most vulnerable segments of society. Increased uptake of vaccines has already transformed the world for the better. When Gavi was established a quarter-century ago, millions of children died annually from diseases such as measles and pneumonia. These deaths represented an unconscionable tragedy because they could have been prevented easily. Gavi was founded to put a stop to this needless suffering. Gavi's public-private model is unique among global health organizations. By bringing together vaccine manufacturers, national governments, donors, and grassroots organizations, Gavi has vaccinated more than 1 billion children in low- and middle-income countries since its inception, preventing nearly 19 million deaths and helping to halve childhood mortality. Moreover, the organization has built effective global defenses against pandemics and other infectious threats by creating and maintaining emergency vaccine stockpiles. Investing in Gavi's immunization efforts has produced remarkable returns. Since 2000, the organization's work has generated $250 billion in broader economic benefits in the low- and middle-income countries where it operates, helping 19 of them to outgrow the need for vaccine support. Recognizing the vital role that immunization plays in enhancing public health and resiliency, several of these 'Gavi graduates' are now donors themselves. We should take a step back and consider what unites us. Jose Manuel Barroso This week's global summit will determine the future of Gavi's immunization efforts. As the organization approaches its next five-year strategic period — possibly the most consequential in its history — we are calling for renewed financial and political commitments to protect the next generation. Our goal over the next five years is to vaccinate 500 million children in the world's poorest countries against 19 diseases. For the first time in history, we have a vaccine that can turn the tide against malaria. We can also protect millions of girls against cervical cancer with the HPV vaccine, maintain progress against preventable killers such as measles and typhoid, and provide children in conflict-riven and displaced communities with basic vaccinations. But none of this can be achieved without the financial backing of donor countries and partners. Of course, most donors are juggling competing budget priorities, particularly as policymakers, confronting geopolitical uncertainty and deepening polarization between countries, push for higher defense spending. But, as the global pandemic illustrated, ensuring our citizens' safety cannot be achieved through military might alone. Resilience requires investment in health security. Moreover, because immunization is a global public good, efforts to provide it can create fertile ground for further cooperation. Even amid all of life's economic, political, and scientific complexities, sometimes the choices we face are simple. There is no future without children. Improving access to vaccines is perhaps the single most effective and scalable tool at our disposal to stem the spread of preventable diseases that threaten too many young people and cause unnecessary deaths. Regardless of our differences and disagreements, I am confident that the world can find common purpose when it comes to immunization, and that, working together, we can begin to create the conditions for a better and more hopeful future. • Jose Manuel Barroso, a former president of the European Commission and prime minister of Portugal, is chair of the board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. ©Project Syndicate
