Trump Administration Thwarts Global Vaccine Catch-Up Efforts, Delays $600 Million Funding for Gavi
The Trump administration has significantly hindered global vaccination efforts by gutting funding to USAID, which managed the U.S. partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Additionally, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with support from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, delayed the release of $600 million appropriated by Congress for Gavi. This action comes despite Gavi's role in immunizing 1.2 billion children against 20 diseases and preventing 20 million deaths since its founding in 2000. The U.S. had previously been Gavi's third-largest donor, providing 13% of its annual funding. The administration's abandonment of NATO and perceived embrace of Russia also led other wealthy countries like the UK and France to redirect international aid towards defense spending, further exacerbating Gavi's budget shortfall. This interference occurred as the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and Gavi launched 'The Big Catch-Up' initiative in 2023 to vaccinate 21 million children aged 1 to 5 wh... 
