LONDON — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the United States will no longer financially support Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, citing what he described as the organization’s failure to uphold scientific standards and maintain public trust.
Kennedy’s pre-recorded remarks were broadcast to attendees at a Gavi donor meeting held Wednesday in Brussels, where the group aimed to secure at least $9 billion in funding to continue its work through 2030.
Gavi, a major public-private global health partnership involving the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the World Bank, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has been instrumental in expanding vaccine access in low-income countries. Since its founding in 2000, the alliance has enabled over 1 billion children to receive routine immunizations, preventing an estimated 18 million deaths. Historically, the United States has been one of its largest donors, having pledged $1 billion before President Donald Trump’s return to office.
Kennedy, known for his longstanding skepticism toward vaccines, claimed Gavi must do more to rebuild credibility and follow what he called “the best available science,” even when that science challenges prevailing views. He stated that U.S. contributions would be halted until those expectations are met.
Criticizing Gavi’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kennedy expressed concern over the group’s collaboration with WHO and tech companies to combat misinformation — which he interpreted as a suppression of public dialogue. He also questioned the alliance’s continued promotion of certain vaccines, such as COVID-19 immunizations for pregnant women and a combined diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine administered in lower-income nations.
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Health experts, including WHO, continue to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women, noting their heightened vulnerability to severe complications. While Kennedy cited studies suggesting higher mortality rates among vaccinated young girls, researchers stress that such findings are observational and inconclusive, and do not establish a causal link between vaccines and mortality.
In response to Kennedy’s claims, Gavi defended its practices, stating in a Thursday statement that its decisions are guided by recommendations from WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization. “Gavi’s primary concern remains the health and well-being of children,” the statement read. The alliance reaffirmed its commitment to science-based policies and asserted that the DTP vaccine has contributed significantly to lowering childhood mortality rates globally.
Despite the U.S. withdrawal, Gavi continues to receive strong support from other nations. The United Kingdom, for example, pledged 1.25 billion pounds (approximately $1.7 billion) over the next funding cycle. British officials said the investment would help protect as many as 500 million children across the world from preventable diseases such as measles, meningitis, and cholera.
