EditGlobal aid cuts threaten child vaccinations, rivaling Covid disruptions, UN warns
A key driver of the crisis is the U.S. decision to terminate its annual contribution to Gavi, the vaccine alliance
Global aid funding cuts, primarily driven by the United States, are disrupting childhood vaccination programs in low- and middle-income countries nearly as severely as the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations warned on Thursday.
According to reports from World Health Organization (WHO) offices across 108 nations, emergency and routine vaccinations were significantly impacted in nearly half of these countries by early April 2025. The reductions have slashed vaccine supplies, hampered disease surveillance, and fueled outbreaks of preventable diseases like measles, meningitis, and yellow fever, which are surging globally.
The WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, issued a joint statement highlighting that these setbacks mirror the scale of disruptions during the COVID-19 crisis, which UNICEF previously called the largest backslide in childhood immunization in a generation. “We cannot afford to lose ground in the fight against preventable disease,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. Measles cases have risen annually since 2021, with meningitis surging in Africa and yellow fever cases increasing after a decade of decline, the agencies noted.
A key driver of the crisis is the U.S. decision to terminate its $300 million annual contribution to Gavi, part of broader cuts to UNICEF and WHO funding under the “America First” policy, as revealed in a March 2025 U.S. Agency for International Development document. Gavi’s CEO, Sania Nishtar, warned that without U.S. support, 1.2 million child deaths could occur over the next five years due to unvaccinated children facing diseases like measles and diphtheria. Gavi is seeking $9 billion for 2026-2030 to sustain its programs, with Nishtar emphasizing its cost-effectiveness in saving lives and bolstering global health security.
The funding crisis compounds existing challenges. A 2023 UNICEF report noted that 67 million children missed vaccinations between 2019 and 2021 due to pandemic disruptions, conflict, and vaccine misinformation, with Africa hosting nearly half of these “zero-dose” children. WHO’s 2024 data showed global immunization coverage stalling at 84% for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccines, far below the 90% needed to prevent outbreaks. Measles vaccination rates, critical at 95% to avoid resurgence, languished at 83% for the first dose in 2023.
International responses are mixed. The U.S. State Department recently nominated Mark Lloyd to Gavi’s board, but both parties declined to clarify implications for future funding. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric praised Gavi as a “symbol of multilateral cooperation,” urging generous donations. Meanwhile, posts on X reflect public alarm, with users like @ACFID warning of over a million potential child deaths due to Gavi’s funding shortfall.
The crisis underscores the fragility of global health systems. With Gavi’s funding round looming in June 2025, experts call for urgent investment in primary healthcare, community health workers, and vaccine supply chains to avert a public health catastrophe. Without swift action, decades of progress in reducing child mortality risk reversal, leaving millions vulnerable to preventable diseases.
Sources: Reuters, UNICEF, WHO, Rappler, X posts
Updated: April 28, 2025 - 04:48
