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U.S. to End Vaccine Funds and Support for Malaria Programs : Stephanie Nolan / NY Times

Article shared by Viviane Sakkal

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Summary

The U.S. is stepping back from a leading role in childhood vaccinations worldwide, raising serious concerns about the future of global health initiatives. the Trump administration is cutting U.S. funding to Gavi, the global vaccine alliance that helps immunize children in poorer countries. This move significantly reduces America’s role in global childhood vaccination efforts. Experts warn that the move could have devastating consequences for global health. Additionally, efforts to combat malaria will be scaled back. However, funding for certain grants, such as those addressing HIV and tuberculosis treatments, and food aid for regions affected by civil wars and natural disasters, will continue.

Quotes
“It’s a body blow to the world’s vaccine safety net,” said Dr. Orin Levine, former director at the Gates Foundation.
“Millions of children will go unvaccinated,” said one former USAID official. “We’re unraveling decades of progress.”

Comments

  1. So very sad & alarming to hear the axe now potentially falling on GAVI.

    Having been a member of the GAVI Board representing UNICEF and seeing its great life-saving work firsthand in many low and middle-income countries, I can attest to GAVI's impactful contribution to saving millions of children and enhancing their health, education, and life prospects.

    Hope against hope that the powers that be will reconsider this supremely unwise proposal.

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  2. This is indeed sad and alarming - millions of children will go unvaccinated and may perish. Having spent all my life on promoting and implementing immunization programmes over several decades, I am very sad to see this reversal of progress. Hope sanity will prevail and these decisions will be reversed. The situation in USA is also dire and we are seeing epidemics of measles and avian flu. Would not be surprised if this continues, we will see cases of vaccine preventable diseases on a large scale in USA!

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  3. This is too sad. Concerned countries will now have to prioritize the costs of child immunization over other - less important - expenditure.

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