Kennedy Undermines Lifesaving Vaccine Effort at Global Summit

At today’s high-level pledging summit in Brussels, global leaders came together to support global vaccination, including Gavi’s effort to raise $9 billion to fund its 2026–2030 strategy. Over the next five years, Gavi aims to deliver 500 million childhood vaccinations, respond to deadly outbreaks, and save more than 8 million lives.

But instead of showing up in solidarity to protect millions of people, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in a pre-recorded statement, announced that the United States would withhold further funding while attacking Gavi and spreading false claims about vaccine safety.

Public Citizen Global Vaccines Access Campaign Director Liza Barrie issued the following statement:

“Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s reported decision to cut off support for Gavi is reckless and deadly. The Trump administration is turning its back on a program that has helped vaccinate more than a billion children and save over 17 million lives—while Kennedy spreads lies about science, safety and one of the world’s most effective public health efforts.The facts are clear. Gavi exists to get vaccines to children who need them most. It works with governments in lower-income countries, health workers and communities to stop deadly diseases. Because of Gavi, millions of children who would have died are alive today.

Kennedy claims that Gavi ignored science are entirely false. Gavi’s recommendations—are grounded in global evidence and reviewed by independent experts. His suggestion otherwise fuels the same disinformation that has already led to deadly measles outbreaks and the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio.

Gavi has publicly refuted Kennedy’s claims, reaffirming its commitment to vaccine safety and evidence-based decisions.

“This isn’t about protecting children. It’s about abandoning them. Choosing to walk away from a program that saves lives—knowing full well what the consequences will be—isn’t just reckless. It’s cruel.

“Public Citizen urges Congress to act—starting with protecting the Gavi funding already allocated in the FY25 budget, which the Trump administration is now trying to claw back through its rescissions proposal. Lawmakers must also protect Gavi funding in the FY26 budget. The United States must not walk away from global vaccine access. Not now, not ever. Turning away would be a choice to let disease spread and let children die.”