In a significant move, the Trump administration has announced cuts to many global health programs, with a particular focus on the Vaccine Alliance, known as Gavi. This decision is noteworthy because it includes over a billion dollars in promised funding from the United States that will not be delivered.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has raised alarms regarding Gavi’s approach to vaccine safety, which has sparked outrage among public health experts globally. In a video directed to the organization, he referred to a study from 2017 that he claimed served as landmark evidence suggesting that one of the world’s most prevalent vaccines may pose risks.
RFK Jr. emphasized that the study was conducted by what he referred to as ‘five internationally revered deities of vaccine research.’ One of these researchers is Christine Stabell Benn, who has examined the DTP vaccine, typically administered to a majority of children worldwide to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.
Stabell Benn pointed out that while the DTP vaccine effectively prevents these three deadly diseases, her team’s research delved deeper into its overall impact on children’s health.
In her TEDx Talk from 2019, Stabell Benn revealed some troubling findings: children who received the DTP vaccine were found to have a fivefold increased risk of dying compared to those who did not receive the vaccine.
Although these results are indeed alarming, many experts remain skeptical of the original study’s validity. Beate Kampmann, an authority at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, dismissed the claims as ‘false news.’
Kampmann shared several concerns regarding the integrity of the study, highlighting that it relied on outdated data and was an observational study with dubious statistics.
She pointed out that the researchers conducted a follow-up investigation a few years later which yielded contradictory findings; children who received the DTP vaccine in this later study were not more likely to die.
Moreover, Kampmann noted the DTP vaccines administered today are significantly different from those given in the 1980s, when the original study was conducted.
‘Everything from the recipe to the production processes has evolved considerably since then,’ she said.
Kampmann is not alone in her skepticism. The World Health Organization has convened independent panels of experts to address these safety concerns regarding the DTP vaccine.
After careful investigation over the last two decades, the panels have consistently reaffirmed their recommendations for widespread DTP vaccinations. Kate O’Brien, the WHO’s leading vaccine expert, commented on the decades’ worth of safety data supporting the DTP vaccine’s efficacy and necessity.
O’Brien cautioned that failing to vaccinate could lead to tragic outcomes: ‘We will cause harm. It will result in deaths.’
In response to concerns raised by prominent vaccinologists about the claims made by RFK Jr., the Department of Health and Human Services did not address specific inquiries but emphasized that Gavi needs to re-establish public trust.
The decision to withdraw funding for global vaccination efforts has drawn heavy criticism from medical professionals.
Paul Offit, who directs the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, condemned the cuts, labeling them as a ‘travesty.’
He praised Gavi as an invaluable public health organization, highlighting its economic efficiency and impact.
Offit accused RFK Jr. of employing questionable evidence to influence a decision with far-reaching consequences for global health.
Gabrielle Emanuel from NPR News provided in-depth coverage on the matter, presenting viewpoints from various health experts to paint a comprehensive picture of the ongoing debate over vaccine safety and funding.
As the conversation continues, the implications of these funding cuts could have significant repercussions for vaccination efforts in the world’s poorest regions.
image source from：npr
