Summary
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the U.S. will stop funding Gavi, a global vaccine program. Kennedy expressed concerns about Gavi's handling of COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and questioned the safety of a vaccine called DTPw, despite lacking evidence.
Key Facts
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, announced the U.S. will no longer fund Gavi.
- Gavi is a global health program that has vaccinated over a billion children from poor countries.
- Kennedy raised questions about Gavi's COVID-19 vaccine recommendations and the DTPw vaccine's safety without providing evidence.
- Since 2001, the U.S. contributed $8 billion to Gavi.
- Gavi claims the DTPw vaccine has saved millions of lives and states its recommendations follow World Health Organization guidelines.
- The Trump administration previously considered cutting $300 million in annual aid to Gavi.
- Advocacy groups oppose the funding cut and insist Gavi's science-based recommendations are crucial.
- Kennedy replaced all 17 experts on the CDC's vaccine committee with some members holding anti-vaccine views.
