US funding to global vaccine alliance on hold as health chief demands transparency

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the United States will withhold further contributions to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, until the organization “re-earns the public trust.”

Kennedy’s statement came in a provocative video address delivered during Gavi’s pledging summit, where he sharply criticized the alliance’s handling of vaccine safety and its response during the COVID-19 pandemic, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

“When the science was inconvenient, Gavi ignored the science,” Kennedy declared. He accused Gavi of making “questionable recommendations” regarding COVID-19 vaccines and suppressing dissenting opinions. Kennedy called on the organization to “re-earn the public trust and to justify the $8 billion that America has provided in funding since 2001.” He urged Gavi to “consider the best science available, even when the science contradicts established paradigms,” warning that “until that happens, the United States won’t contribute more to Gavi.”

In response, Gavi emphasized its commitment to “the health and safety of children.” The alliance stated that its vaccine decisions align with recommendations from the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), describing the review process as “rigorous, transparent, and independent.”

Gavi leaders gathered in Brussels for the pledging summit, aiming to raise $9 billion to fund childhood vaccinations between 2026 and 2030, targeting 500 million doses to save at least 8 million lives. While the US had previously pledged $1.58 billion under former President Joe Biden, Kennedy’s announcement cast uncertainty on future contributions. The Trump administration had earlier signaled plans to reduce funding by approximately $300 million annually.

Kennedy also criticized Gavi and the WHO for allegedly collaborating during the pandemic to “recommend best practices for social media companies to silence dissenting views,” referencing restrictions on President Donald Trump’s social media accounts.

Addressing vaccine safety concerns, Kennedy targeted Gavi’s promotion of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine, citing a disputed 2017 study linking it to increased female infant mortality. Gavi responded that “global immunisation experts continue to recommend DTP for infants in high-risk settings” and stressed the vaccine’s critical role in reducing childhood mortality.

Since assuming office, Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, has restricted COVID-19 vaccine access and replaced CDC vaccine advisory panel members with appointees sharing his controversial views on immunizations.

By Vafa Guliyeva