The Trump Administration Must Heed WHO-UNICEF-Gavi Warning to Prioritize Vaccinations, Save Lives
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and Gavi issued a joint warning underscoring the growing global threat that outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases are rising and decades of progress are at risk of collapse.
Liza Barrie, campaign director for Global Vaccines Access at Public Citizen, issued the following statement:
“For nearly five decades, the United States has powered global vaccination efforts—helping immunize over a billion people and saving more than 150 million lives. Vaccines stop deadly outbreaks, strengthen health systems, and protect us all.
“But the Trump administration is destroying this legacy. It ended U.S. funding for critical surveillance systems that catch measles outbreaks before they spread. It cut off support for global polio eradication—jeopardizing one of humanity’s greatest public health accomplishments. And now, it is threatening to cancel $1.9 billion pledged to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which helps vaccinate children in the world’s poorest communities.
“These are the very systems that helped eliminate measles in the U.S. in 2000. Today, as measles surges across the country, we are pulling apart the infrastructure that once kept it at bay. So far this year, more than 800 measles cases have been reported in 24 states. Three Americans have died—two of them children. The U.S. is scrambling to respond to outbreaks at home while simultaneously gutting the global programs that prevent them. This isn’t policy. It’s sabotage.
“And behind it all, a well-financed disinformation machine—led in part by political figures who’ve built careers on sowing distrust in science—continues to undermine public confidence in vaccines. Cutting Gavi could leave 75 million children unvaccinated and cost 1.3 million lives. This is not just a threat to children abroad—it’s a direct threat to Americans at home. The U.S. must fulfill its $1.9 billion commitment to Gavi through 2030. Congress must act now to defend global vaccination and protect lives, at home and worldwide.”