Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has announced that the United States will cease financial contributions to Gavi, a global health initiative responsible for vaccinating over one billion of the world’s least privileged children.
In a recent video presentation at a Gavi fundraising event held in Brussels, Kennedy expressed skepticism about the organization’s recommendations concerning COVID-19 vaccines.
He also voiced concerns regarding the diphtheria-tetanus-whole cell pertussis vaccine (DTPw), stating his apprehensions without providing corroborative evidence.
Kennedy urged Gavi to rebuild public trust and to justify the $8 billion the United States has allocated in funding since the program’s inception in 2001.
He emphasized the necessity for Gavi to consider comprehensive scientific evidence before committing to vaccine investments, stating, “Until that happens, the United States won’t contribute more.”
Details about his pronouncement were initially shared by Politico and subsequently picked up by other news outlets, including Reuters.
In response, Gavi issued a detailed statement asserting that vaccine safety is among its highest priorities, adhering closely to the recommendations of the World Health Organization.
The statement further reinforced Gavi’s confidence in the DTPw vaccine, which has been credited with halving child mortality rates in the nations it serves since the year 2000.
Gavi noted that the DTPw vaccine has been administered to millions of children globally for decades and has reportedly saved over 40 million lives in the last 50 years.
This decision to cut funding follows earlier indications from the administration of President Donald Trump, aimed at reducing U.S. financial support for Gavi, which accounted for approximately $300 million annually, as part of a broader reduction in international aid.
Various advocacy organizations have urged the U.S. government to reconsider its decision.
Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, accused Kennedy of spreading false claims regarding Gavi’s adherence to scientific evidence, stating, “Gavi’s recommendations are grounded in global evidence and reviewed by independent experts.”
The group warned that Kennedy’s assertions contribute to a narrative that led to outbreaks of measles and the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases like polio.
Robert F Kennedy Jr, a longstanding vaccine skeptic, has disrupted the conventional medical landscape in the U.S. since taking office in February.
He has raised questions about potential links between autism and vaccination despite numerous studies disproving such connections.
Earlier this month, Kennedy dismissed all 17 members of the expert panel on vaccines at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
Established 60 years ago, the ACIP serves as an independent government body charged with reviewing data to make recommendations on vaccination.
These recommendations significantly influence which vaccines health insurance plans will cover.
Among the initial eight replacements appointed by Kennedy, approximately half have been noted for their advocacy against vaccines.
The newly formed panel convened for its first meeting amidst considerable scrutiny from medical experts concerned about Americans’ access to essential vaccinations.
Tension is already surfacing around the panel’s activities.
Ahead of the meeting, government scientists prepared materials asserting that vaccination represents “the best protection” during pregnancy, adding that unvaccinated children accounted for the majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the past year.
However, this guidance contradicts Kennedy’s stance; he has publicly stated that COVID-19 vaccines will no longer be recommended for healthy children or pregnant women.
The newly constituted panel has also faced a setback, losing one of its eight members right before Tuesday’s assembly.
Michael Ross, a Virginia-based obstetrician and gynecologist, resigned from the committee, reducing its size to seven members.
The Trump administration noted that Ross’s withdrawal occurred during a normal review of the members’ financial interests.
The meeting commenced as the American Academy of Pediatrics announced that it would continue to issue its vaccine schedule for children, albeit independently of the ACIP, deeming it “no longer a credible process.”
Typically, ACIP’s recommendations are sent to the CDC director, who almost always accepts them, influencing insurance companies in their decisions about vaccine coverage.
Currently, the CDC lacks a permanent director, so the panel’s recommendations have been directed to Kennedy, who has yet to act on several ACIP proposals presented back in April.
Separately, Senate hearings began on Wednesday for President Donald Trump’s nominee for CDC director, Susan Monarez.
Monarez stated during the hearings that she had not encountered evidence linking vaccines to autism and expressed her intent to investigate the decision to halt Gavi funding.
She emphasized the critical importance of global health security and the need for continued support in promoting vaccine utilization.
image source from：aljazeera
