Trump Administration To Terminate Funding For Childhood Vaccines In Developing Countries

The New York Times (3/26, Nolen) reports the Trump Administration plans to end support for Gavi, “the organization that has helped purchase critical vaccines for children in developing countries, saving millions of lives over the past quarter century, and to significantly scale back support for efforts to combat malaria, one of the biggest killers globally.” The terminated grant to Gavi “was worth $2.6 billion through 2030.” The organization estimates “the loss of U.S. support may mean 75 million children do not receive routine vaccinations in the next five years, with more than 1.2 million children dying as a result.” The decision was “included in a 281-page spreadsheet that the United States Agency for International Development sent to Congress Monday night, listing the foreign aid projects it plans to continue and to terminate.” Reuters (3/26, Rigby) reports that a total of 5,341 awards “will be terminated, representing just under $76 billion, the document says. The government has obligated, or made a legal commitment to spend, around $48 billion of that total.” Meanwhile, 898 programs “will remain active, totaling $78 billion in spending, much of it already disbursed.” The Administration plans to “continue some key grants for medications to treat H.I.V. and tuberculosis, and food aid to countries facing civil wars and natural disasters.”