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Boston Globe
6 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Trump budget eliminates funding for crucial global vaccination programs
'The request eliminates funding for programs that do not make Americans safer, such as family planning and reproductive health, neglected tropical diseases, and nonemergency nutrition,' the proposal said. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Many public health experts said that such thinking is flawed because infectious diseases routinely breach borders. The United States is battling multiple measles outbreaks, prompting the CDC last week to warn travelers about the risks of contracting measles. Each of those outbreaks began with a case of measles contracted by an international traveler. Advertisement Gavi is in talks with administration officials and members of Congress to try to restore the organization's funding, according to a spokesperson for the organization. 'I think the world has forgotten those days when graveyards used to be full of graves of children that died of measles, that died of diphtheria, that died of simple infectious diseases,' Dr. Sania Nishtar, Gavi's CEO, said in an interview. 'There is so much at stake.' Advertisement Measles, polio and other diseases have resurged around the world, in part because of disruptions to immunization campaigns during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as misinformation that percolated during the pandemic. Polio seemed tantalizingly close to eradication a couple of years ago, but new cases have sprung up in dozens of countries this year, including in Papua New Guinea, which was declared polio-free 25 years ago. An estimated 3.2 million children in the World Health Organization's Western Pacific Region, which includes Papua New Guinea, did not receive a single dose of vaccine between 2020 and 2023. This year, several countries in the region, including Cambodia, the Philippines and Vietnam, are reporting the highest number of measles cases since 2020, according to the WHO. The Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network, which comprises more than 700 labs in more than 150 countries, is at risk of imminent closure, precipitated by the Trump administration's decision to stop funding it. So is the WHO's National Public Health Support Network, which monitors immunization for polio, measles and other diseases in India. 'The U.S. has been extremely generous over many years, and is of course within its rights to decide what it supports, and to what extent,' said Christian Lindmeier, a spokesperson for the WHO. 'But the scale, scope and abrupt nature of the U.S. cuts will lead to more disease and death, and countries have not been able to plan a sufficient transition,' he said. 'We hope the U.S. will reconsider and continue their legacy of leadership in global health.' The polio eradication effort faces a 40% budget deficit in 2026, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, a senior WHO official, told the World Health Assembly in Geneva last month. Advertisement 'We are at a tipping point,' she said. 'Either we invest now to finish the job or risk a global resurgence.' The Trump administration has also canceled contracts that support local health systems and disease surveillance for malaria, said Martin Edlund, CEO of the advocacy group Malaria No More. The budget proposes to cut funding for the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, a program to fight the disease around the world, by 47%. The proposal leaves flexibility for the State Department to support the Global Fund, which finances the majority of the campaigns worldwide against HIV, malaria and tuberculosis, but says the U.S. should contribute $1 for every $4 from other donors instead of the current $1 for every $2. Edlund said the change 'will undoubtedly have a chilling effect on other donors.' The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which supplies HIV treatments in developing countries, fared somewhat better than expected. In January, the Trump administration halted disbursement of funds from the program. The State Department later issued waivers to allow treatments to resume but did not restore funding for HIV prevention. The 2026 budget proposes just under $3 billion for the program, less than half its previous funding. On Tuesday, the Trump administration also asked Congress to approve clawbacks of $9.4 billion from programs, including PEPFAR, that were already authorized for 2025. PEPFAR is credited with having saved more than 20 million lives since its inception in 2003, and is widely regarded as the most successful global health campaign in history. A spokesperson for the federal Office of Management and Budget said the president's proposed budget 'prioritizes lifesaving global health activities, including PEPFAR treatment for those on lifesaving medications and global health security to prevent infectious diseases from reaching our homeland, while eliminating programs that do not serve Americans and where other countries and donors should be contributing their fair share.' Advertisement She added that the budget eliminates programs that focus on transgender and LGBTQ+ people as well as 'programs that have supported abortions.' She did not address questions about immunization programs. The budget references a 'responsible off-ramp' for PEPFAR, aiming to transfer control of HIV programs to recipient countries. 'In effect, the administration is signaling an intent to wind down the most successful U.S. global HIV initiative in history,' said Jirair Ratevosian, who served as chief of staff for PEPFAR during the Biden administration. He praised the proposal's embrace of artificial intelligence and long-acting HIV prevention technologies, as well as the explicit call for handoff to countries. 'But these transitions cannot succeed atop weakened or dismantled infrastructure,' he said. Coupled with the deep cuts proposed, 'this approach risks hollowing out the very systems needed for a successful handover.' This article originally appeared in
Arab News
24-04-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Aid funding cuts disrupt child vaccinations almost as much as pandemic, says UN
LONDON: Global aid funding cuts, led by the United States, are disrupting efforts to vaccinate children against deadly diseases almost as much as the COVID-19 pandemic did, the United Nations said on Thursday. Outbreaks of infectious diseases, including measles, meningitis and yellow fever, have been increasing globally. Emergency and routine vaccinations meanwhile were significantly affected in nearly half of countries at the start of April due to the funding cuts, according to reports from World Health Organization offices in 108 largely low and lower-middle income countries. Cuts to funding also reduced vaccine supplies and hampered disease surveillance, the WHO and UNICEF said in a joint release with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. 'Setbacks (are) at a similar level to what we saw during COVID-19. We cannot afford to lose ground in the fight against preventable disease,' said Catherine Russell, UNICEF executive director. COVID-19 caused what was called the largest backslide in childhood vaccination in a generation, and aid funding cuts, led by the US – formerly the world's largest donor – risked the same outcome, the joint release said. They called for funding for childhood immunization to be maintained ahead of Gavi's funding round, which will be launched in June. The group is seeking $9 billion for its work from 2026-2030. Sania Nishtar, Gavi's chief executive officer, said it was possible to fight the rise of infectious diseases but only if the group is fully funded. Measles cases have increased year-on-year since 2021, while meningitis surged in Africa last year and yellow fever cases also rose after declines in the last decade, the agencies said. Last month, an internal US government document showed it would follow its cuts to UNICEF and the WHO, part of wider plans to streamline and focus foreign aid to align with the 'America First' policy, by canceling its contribution of around $300 million annually to Gavi. Last week, the US State Department told Reuters it had nominated Mark Lloyd, assistant administrator for global health, to Gavi's 28-person board. The US seat had previously been vacant. Both the US State Department and Gavi declined to comment about what this could mean for US funding.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Aid funding disrupts child vaccinations almost as much as pandemic, says UN
London: Global aid funding cuts , led by the United States, are disrupting efforts to vaccinate children against deadly diseases almost as much as the COVID-19 pandemic did, the United Nations said on Thursday. Outbreaks of infectious diseases , including measles, meningitis and yellow fever, have been increasing globally. Emergency and routine vaccinations meanwhile were significantly affected in nearly half of countries at the start of April due to the funding cuts, according to reports from World Health Organization offices in 108 largely low and lower-middle income countries. Cuts to funding also reduced vaccine supplies and hampered disease surveillance, the WHO and UNICEF said in a joint release with Gavi , the Vaccine Alliance. "Setbacks (are) at a similar level to what we saw during COVID-19. We cannot afford to lose ground in the fight against preventable disease," said Catherine Russell, UNICEF executive director. COVID-19 caused what was called the largest backslide in childhood vaccination in a generation, and aid funding cuts, led by the U.S. - formerly the world's largest donor - risked the same outcome, the joint release said. They called for funding for childhood immunisation to be maintained ahead of Gavi's funding round, which will be launched in June. The group is seeking $9 billion for its work from 2026-2030. Sania Nishtar, Gavi's chief executive officer, said it was possible to fight the rise of infectious diseases but only if the group is fully funded. Measles cases have increased year-on-year since 2021, while meningitis surged in Africa last year and yellow fever cases also rose after declines in the last decade, the agencies said. Last month, an internal U.S. government document showed it would follow its cuts to UNICEF and the WHO, part of wider plans to streamline and focus foreign aid to align with the "America First" policy, by cancelling its contribution of around $300 million annually to Gavi. Last week, the U.S. State Department told Reuters it had nominated Mark Lloyd, assistant administrator for global health, to Gavi's 28-person board. The U.S. seat had previously been vacant. Both the U.S. State Department and Gavi declined to comment about what this could mean for U.S. funding.
Straits Times
24-04-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Aid funding disrupts child vaccinations almost as much as Covid-19 pandemic, says UN
Aid funding disrupts child vaccinations almost as much as Covid-19 pandemic, says UN LONDON - Global aid funding cuts, led by the United States, are disrupting efforts to vaccinate children against deadly diseases almost as much as the Covid-19 pandemic did, the United Nations said on April 24. Outbreaks of infectious diseases, including measles, meningitis and yellow fever, have been increasing globally. Emergency and routine vaccinations meanwhile were significantly affected in nearly half of countries at the start of April due to the funding cuts, according to reports from World Health Organisation offices in 108 largely low and lower-middle income countries. Cuts to funding also reduced vaccine supplies and hampered disease surveillance, the WHO and Unicef said in a joint release with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. "Setbacks (are) at a similar level to what we saw during Covid-19. We cannot afford to lose ground in the fight against preventable disease," said Ms Catherine Russell, Unicef executive director. Covid-19 caused what was called the largest backslide in childhood vaccination in a generation, and aid funding cuts, led by the US – formerly the world's largest donor – risked the same outcome, the joint release said. They called for funding for childhood immunisation to be maintained ahead of Gavi's funding round, which will be launched in June. The group is seeking US$9 billion (S$11.83 billion) for its work from 2026-2030. Dr Sania Nishtar, Gavi's chief executive officer, said it was possible to fight the rise of infectious diseases, but only if the group is fully funded. Measles cases have increased year-on-year since 2021, while meningitis surged in Africa in 2024 and yellow fever cases also rose after declines in the last decade, the agencies said. In March, an internal US government document showed it would follow its cuts to Unicef and the WHO, part of wider plans to streamline and focus foreign aid to align with the "America First" policy, by cancelling its contribution of around US$300 million annually to Gavi. Last week, the US State Department told Reuters it had nominated Mr Mark Lloyd, assistant administrator for global health, to Gavi's 28-person board. The US seat had previously been vacant. Both the US State Department and Gavi declined to comment about what this could mean for US funding. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
AsiaOne
24-04-2025
- Health
- AsiaOne
Aid funding disrupts child vaccinations almost as much as pandemic, says UN, World News
LONDON — Global aid funding cuts, led by the United States, are disrupting efforts to vaccinate children against deadly diseases almost as much as the Covid-19 pandemic did, the United Nations said on Thursday (April 24). Outbreaks of infectious diseases, including measles, meningitis and yellow fever, have been increasing globally. Emergency and routine vaccinations meanwhile were significantly affected in nearly half of countries at the start of April due to the funding cuts, according to reports from World Health Organisation (WHO) offices in 108 largely low and lower-middle income countries. Cuts to funding also reduced vaccine supplies and hampered disease surveillance, the WHO and Unicef said in a joint release with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. "Setbacks (are) at a similar level to what we saw during Covid-19. We cannot afford to lose ground in the fight against preventable disease," said Catherine Russell, Unicef executive director. Covid-19 caused what was called the largest backslide in childhood vaccination in a generation, and aid funding cuts, led by the US — formerly the world's largest donor — risked the same outcome, the joint release said. They called for funding for childhood immunisation to be maintained ahead of Gavi's funding round, which will be launched in June. The group is seeking US$9 billion (S$12 billion) for its work from 2026 to 2030. Sania Nishtar, Gavi's chief executive officer, said it was possible to fight the rise of infectious diseases but only if the group is fully funded. Measles cases have increased year-on-year since 2021, while meningitis surged in Africa last year and yellow fever cases also rose after declines in the last decade, the agencies said. Last month, an internal US government document showed it would follow its cuts to Unicef and the WHO, part of wider plans to streamline and focus foreign aid to align with the "America First" policy, by cancelling its contribution of around US$300 million annually to Gavi. Last week, the US State Department told Reuters it had nominated Mark Lloyd, assistant administrator for global health, to Gavi's 28-person board. The US seat had previously been vacant. Both the US State Department and Gavi declined to comment about what this could mean for US funding. [[nid:716043]]
