A leading global health organisation has issued a stark warning that up to one million children could die from preventable diseases if the United States follows through with its plan to terminate financial support.
Dr. Sania Nishtar, head of Gavi, an international alliance that provides critical vaccines to developing nations, stated that cutting US funding would have a "disastrous impact on global health security." Her remarks follow a report from the New York Times indicating that the Trump administration is considering withdrawing financial support for Gavi. The United States is currently the alliance’s third-largest donor.
Although Gavi has not yet received an official termination notice from Washington, Dr. Nishtar confirmed that the organisation is actively engaging with the White House and Congress to secure $300 million for its 2025 activities, along with long-term funding commitments. The US has pledged $1.6 billion for the 2026-2030 period, representing approximately 15% of Gavi’s total funding.
Since returning to office in January 2025, President Donald Trump has made clear his intention to align foreign aid spending with his "America First" policy. This approach has raised concerns among international humanitarian organisations, which anticipate major disruptions to global health initiatives and vaccine programs.
One of the first agencies affected by the new administration’s cost-cutting measures was the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Under the oversight of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), USAID faced a 90-day freeze on all US foreign aid earlier this year, sparking fears of severe consequences for global development projects.
Dr. Nishtar highlighted that of the 500 million children requiring immunisation worldwide, 75 million could be left without vaccinations if the US withdraws support from Gavi. This, she warned, could lead to significant deaths from preventable diseases such as measles, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and polio. Additionally, she stressed that funding cuts would impact vaccine stockpiles crucial for combating outbreaks of diseases like Ebola, cholera, and mpox.
Medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has echoed Gavi’s concerns. Carrie Teicher, MSF USA’s chief programs officer, described the potential funding cuts as "catastrophic," emphasising the far-reaching humanitarian consequences.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has also voiced its support for Gavi and is currently in discussions with US officials regarding the impact of the proposed funding cuts. Africa CDC emergencies incident manager Dr. Ngongo Ngashi stated that while routine vaccinations remain a priority, emergency vaccines are equally crucial for the continent’s health security.
"We must prioritise securing independent funding sources that are not reliant on the decisions of external partners," Dr. Ngashi said, stressing the need for sustainable financial mechanisms within Africa to support public health initiatives.
In response to potential funding shortages, Gavi has announced efforts to expand its donor base. Notably, Indonesia—a country that was once a recipient of Gavi’s support—became a contributing donor last year. Dr. Nishtar emphasised that Gavi operates as a highly efficient organisation, ensuring that 97 cents of every dollar raised is directed toward immunisation programs.
"It is impossible to consider that any cut in funding by the US would not have disastrous implications for global health and for the safety of people everywhere," she said.