Statement on Withdrawal of U.S. Support for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance

WASHINGTON—The United to Beat Malaria campaign issued the following statement in response to comments indicating a withdrawal of U.S. support for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance at the Health and Prosperity through Immunisation Summit in Brussels:  

“United to Beat Malaria calls on the Administration to reconsider its decision to cease funding for Gavi, a highly effective, accountable organization that saves the lives of children around the world and advances the health and security of all Americans.

We also call on Congress to stand up for this strong, successful partnership by continuing to fund Gavi in Fiscal Year 26 appropriations and by opposing any attempts to defund it through rescissions.  

Gavi has played a critical role integrating and scaling up the first-in-class malaria immunizations for children over the last year. These vaccines are an exciting new tool with enormous potential in terms of reducing childhood mortality, and next generation vaccines could transform the fight against this disease. Over the next five years, Gavi plans to vaccinate at least 50 million children against malaria, saving more than 170,000 lives. 

Since Gavi was founded in 2000, the U.S. has strongly supported the Alliance and its work on a consistently bipartisan basis. In that time, Gavi’s success expanding access to immunizations has protected more than one billion children from preventable illness and saved nearly 19 million lives. Every dollar the U.S. invests in Gavi also yields a fourfold return to American manufacturers who make many of the world’s life-saving vaccines.  

Gavi’s model—in which 100% of recipient countries contribute to the cost of their immunization programs and countries ultimately graduate from assistance as they develop economically—is a powerful example of accountable, results-driven development aid. It reflects and advances core American values of self-reliance and countries paying their fair share, all while saving millions of lives.  

U.S. investments in Gavi also protect Americans. By building strong, resilient health systems, and maintaining stockpiles of emergency vaccines against deadly diseases like Ebola, Gavi strengthens countries’ ability to stop infectious disease threats overseas, before they reach our shores and threaten Americans.  

Over the next five years, Gavi plans to vaccinate at least 500 million more children, save over eight million additional lives, and generate $100 billion in economic benefits. By 2030, lower-income countries will fund nearly half the costs of their own vaccination programs by 2030. 

We urge Congress to protect the strong American partnership with Gavi and help make this progress possible. Together, Gavi and the U.S. can continue to deliver for the health and security of Americans and people around the world.”