By Jennifer Rigby
LONDON, June 8 (Reuters) - The global vaccine group Gavi said on Monday it hopes to use $600 million in soon-to-be-restored U.S. funding to boost malaria and other vaccination efforts, as it also meets U.S. conditions over phasing out the preservative thimerosal in other vaccines in its portfolio.
The group's board will make the ultimate decision on how the money is used, Gavi said. But malaria is likely a key focus: Earlier this year, Gavi warned that a $1.9 billion hole in its budget
for 2026 to 2030 meant that fewer children were likely to benefit from new malaria vaccines in sub-Saharan Africa, as Reuters reported.
WITHHELD FUNDS
The $600 million was approved by Congress for use in 2025 and 2026, but withheld from Gavi by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who said in June last year that the group ignored safety, without providing evidence. The U.S. has also not pledged money for Gavi's future work.
However, last week U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it was time to re-engage and the $600 million would be sent to Gavi soon, without specifying a date. It is not yet clear what may happen with future U.S. funding.
"Securing these Congressional appropriations, as well as pledges from other donors, will be critical," said a Gavi spokesperson, pointing to the impact a lack of funding would have on the group's malaria work, as well as its ability to support preventive campaigns for diseases like cholera and keep global vaccine stockpiles replenished.
It will also help Gavi speed up a planned shift towards two vaccines which do not contain the mercury-based preservative, thimerosal. Earlier this year, Kennedy conditioned U.S. funding to Gavi on phasing out thimerosal.
Anti-vaccine groups, including one founded by Kennedy, have for decades claimed that thimerosal is linked to autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, despite many studies by scientists around the world showing no related safety issues.
The vaccine group plans to move to supporting countries with a newer meningitis vaccine and a vaccine that protects against six diseases, rather than five, to offer broader protection. Neither of the newer shots contains thimerosal.
Gavi's chief executive said last week that it was already planning this shift before Kennedy's request, as part of a commitment to offer countries the most effective tools available, but U.S. money would help with that move.
(Reporting by Jennifer Rigby; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
