The United States has decided to withdraw its support from the vaccines alliance Gavi amid allegations from U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that the organization has disregarded scientific evidence and compromised public trust. This move was announced through a video message from Kennedy shown at a Gavi meeting in Brussels on Wednesday. The organization, which has facilitated the vaccination of over 1 billion children through its routine immunization programs, aimed to secure at least $9 billion in funding for the next five years.
During his speech, Kennedy, who has expressed skepticism about vaccines in the past, criticized Gavi’s partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) during the COVID-19 pandemic. He accused them of suppressing differing opinions and valid inquiries regarding vaccine safety. Kennedy also expressed doubts regarding the safety and effectiveness of vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, despite the endorsements of WHO and other health entities.
In response, Gavi issued a statement emphasizing its primary concern for the health and safety of children, assuring that every decision regarding vaccine purchases is aligned with recommendations from WHO’s expert vaccine group. This decision by the U.S. has drawn criticism from some medical professionals within the country. Dr. Paul Offit, who is the director of the Vaccine Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, strongly condemned the move, describing it as “incredibly dangerous” and warning that it could endanger millions of children by eliminating immunization support.
Gavi represents a public-private collaboration involving WHO, UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, and the World Bank. It is estimated that its vaccination initiatives have saved approximately 18 million lives globally. Historically, the United States has been a significant supporter; prior to President Donald Trump’s re-election, a commitment of $1 billion through 2030 had been made by the U.S.
Kennedy’s brief address to Gavi urged them to justify the $8 billion we have provided since 2001, suggesting that they need to embrace the latest scientific findings, even when these diverge from established norms. Until this is achieved, Kennedy stated that the U.S. would cease contributions to Gavi. The health secretary specifically pointed to concerns regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, which has been recommended by WHO, Gavi, and other health authorities for pregnant women due to their increased risk of severe illness. Kennedy described this as a “questionable” recommendation following a recent decision by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to discontinue recommending it.
Furthermore, Kennedy criticized Gavi’s funding for the deployment of vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis in low-income countries, citing research that suggested vaccinated young girls experienced higher mortality rates from causes unrelated to the immunization compared to those who weren’t vaccinated. Gavi defended its position by affirming that extensive reviews of all available data, including studies raising concerns, had been conducted. It asserted that the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine has been instrumental in significantly reducing childhood mortality.
Some observational studies have shown that vaccinated girls have higher mortality compared to unvaccinated peers, but there is no evidence that the vaccines are responsible for the deaths. Offit dismissed the studies referenced by Kennedy as unconvincing and stated that research exploring links between vaccination and fatalities did not demonstrate a causal association. “There’s no mechanism here which makes biological sense for why the (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine) might result in more children dying,” Offit emphasized.
Doctors Without Borders predicted that the cessation of U.S. support for Gavi could result in a significant increase in child mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases. They criticized what they described as the use of misleading and inaccurate vaccine safety claims as a basis for terminating global vaccine funding, labeling it as both cruel and reckless. Mihir Mankad, the charity’s global health advocacy and policy director in the U.S., highlighted that communities often line up for hours to secure vaccines that protect their children against deadly diseases, emphasizing the life-saving importance of these programs.
Kennedy’s video address occurred on the day his newly reformed U.S. vaccine advisory panel convened, following his dismissal and subsequent replacement of the former 17-member panel with a new group, including members who have expressed skepticism about vaccines.