The United Nations is warning that steep cuts to global aid funding—led by the United States—are derailing childhood vaccination programs at a level comparable to the disruption seen during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a joint statement released Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said that immunisation efforts are being significantly hampered in nearly half of the world’s low and lower-middle income countries.
The resulting setbacks, they warned, could leave millions of children vulnerable to deadly but preventable diseases.
“These setbacks are at a similar level to what we saw during COVID-19,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “We cannot afford to lose ground in the fight against preventable disease.”
The agencies highlighted alarming spikes in infectious diseases globally. Measles cases have risen each year since 2021. Meningitis is surging in parts of Africa, and yellow fever is on the rise again after years of decline.
Funding shortfalls have not only reduced vaccine availability but have also disrupted supply chains and weakened disease surveillance systems.
READ ALSO: Lori Vallow Daybell Convicted of Conspiring to Kill 4th Husband, Charles Vallow
The loss of financial support, particularly from the U.S.—historically the largest donor—has exacerbated the crisis.
The statement comes ahead of Gavi’s major funding round in June, where the group hopes to raise $9 billion to sustain its immunisation programs from 2026 to 2030.
Gavi’s CEO Sania Nishtar stressed that halting the resurgence of these diseases is possible, “but only if we are fully funded.”
Adding to concern is an internal U.S. government document revealed last month, showing plans to cancel its $300 million annual contribution to Gavi, as part of a wider effort to reshape foreign aid to align with the “America First” doctrine. Neither the U.S. State Department nor Gavi have commented on the implications of this move.
Still, the U.S. has nominated a representative—Mark Lloyd—to Gavi’s board, a seat that had been left vacant, signaling that Washington may still seek influence over global vaccine policy.
