The Trump administration has restored $600 million in funding for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, after the organization agreed to accelerate its transition away from vaccines containing the mercury-based preservative thimerosal.
The funding, which Congress had already appropriated and was set to expire Sept. 30, will support childhood vaccination programs in low-income countries.
Recommended Stories
Under the agreement, Gavi will work to remove thimerosal-containing formulations from vaccines for Hepatitis B, meningitis, pneumonia, and other diseases. The organization was already transitioning away from the preservative in some vaccines but agreed to broaden those efforts as part of the deal.
“Achieving these transitions will require manufacturers to expand production capacity, countries to adopt newer vaccine formulations, and Gavi’s governing Board to complete the necessary approvals,” the administration said in a statement.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long criticized thimerosal, claiming it poses health risks despite decades of scientific research finding the preservative safe. Thimerosal is primarily used in multi-dose vaccine vials to prevent bacterial contamination and lower vaccination costs in resource-limited settings.
The administration suspended Gavi’s funding last year, with Kennedy accusing the alliance of ignoring research and suppressing dissenting views on vaccine safety. The decision drew criticism from public health experts and lawmakers, who warned the move would undermine global vaccination efforts.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) publicly pressed Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the funding freeze during a June budget hearing. Collins announced July 28 that the administration had agreed to release the money.
“It is welcome news that following our recent outreach, the State Department has committed to contributing the full $600 million for GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance,” Collins said in a statement. “I have worked to ensure that the Department uses this funding Congress appropriated to replenish U.S. funding to GAVI, an organization that plays a critical role in averting the spread of preventable diseases globally and stopping outbreaks before they reach U.S. borders.”
‘DR. FAUCI HAS A HUGE EGO’ AND ‘MISTAKES WERE MADE’: BOB CUSACK
Gavi said it would “make every effort” to implement the agreed-upon changes. Chief Executive Sania Nishtar welcomed the decision, saying the restored funding would help maintain emergency vaccine stockpiles for Ebola and other deadly diseases while supporting countries’ efforts to combat malaria.
The decision is the latest example of the administration restoring foreign aid programs after sweeping cuts early in President Donald Trump’s second term. In recent months, the State Department has also reinstated roughly $2 billion in funding for several major global health and humanitarian initiatives.
