A global health crisis is looming. The US might cut funding for vaccines, putting millions of kids at risk.
Dr. Sazio Nishtar, head of Gavi, a charity that buys vaccines for developing countries, warns that this could have a devastating impact on global health security. Without US funding, 75 million kids might miss out on lifesaving vaccines, leaving them vulnerable to diseases like measles, tuberculosis, and polio.
Gavi hasn’t been officially told about the funding cut, but Dr. Nishtar is working with the White House and Congress to secure $300 million for 2022 and long-term support. The US had pledged $1.6 billion to Gavi from 2023 to 2027, which is 15% of the organization’s expected budget.
Since President Trump took office, he’s made it clear that US foreign spending must align with his “America First” idea. The US Agency for International Development (USAID), which funds aid organizations, was one of the first to face budget cuts.
Dr. Nishtar warns that 500 million kids worldwide need vaccines, but without US support, many will be left unprotected. This also reduces governments’ and health agencies’ ability to stockpile vaccines for diseases like Ebola, cholera, and monkeypox.
Source: BBC