Thousands of children face death as US withdraws critical vaccine funding
United States has withdrawn critical funding that has sustained Kenya's immunisation program for more than two decades.
What you need to know:
- The US has withdrawn $1.58 billion in vaccine funding from Gavi, threatening Kenya's ability to immunise children against preventable diseases.
- Thousands of Kenyan infants could die without vaccines the country cannot afford independently.
- Kenya has proposed a gradual transition plan to achieve full self-financing of its immunisation programs by 2035.
Kenya is confronting a devastating public health emergency that could cost thousands of infants their lives from preventable diseases, following America's decision to withdraw critical funding that has sustained the country's immunisation programme for over two decades.
The crisis unfolded when US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr announced that America would cease all contributions to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance—a decision that strips $1.58 billion from global vaccination efforts and leaves countries like Kenya scrambling to fill potentially fatal funding gaps.
For Kenya, this represents far more than a diplomatic setback. It is a potential death sentence for countless children whose survival depends on vaccines the country cannot afford to purchase independently.
"Until Gavi re-earns public trust," Kennedy declared, the US would halt support for the organisation that has delivered life-saving vaccines to the world's poorest children since 2000.
Foundation vaccines
Kenya's immunisation program operates under a co-financing agreement with Gavi, which supports vaccine programs in low-income countries. Under the current arrangement, Kenya fully finances what public health experts call "foundation vaccines"—BCG for tuberculosis protection, polio vaccines (both oral and injectable), Hepatitis B administered at birth, and the crucial DTP combination that shields against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.
However, the country's ability to protect children against a broader spectrum of life-threatening diseases depends heavily on international support. Critical vaccines—including those against HPV (preventing cervical cancer), Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine, pneumococcal disease, yellow fever, and malaria—all require joint funding between Gavi and Kenya's government.
The Rubella (MR) vaccine, Pentavalent Vaccine, Pneumococcal Vaccine (PCV), Yellow Fever vaccine and malaria vaccine are jointly funded by Gavi and the government, whilst the Rotavirus vaccine is fully funded by Gavi.
The US withdrawal from Gavi comes at the worst possible time for Kenya, which is already reeling from USAid funding cuts that have significantly impacted vaccine programs, according to the Ministry of Health.
USAid's $2.5 billion strategic plan for Kenya (2020-2025) served as a critical pillar of the country's healthcare funding, with about 80 per cent allocated to health programs. Recent aid cuts, part of a broader foreign policy realignment under President Trump, have left a £403.8 million hole in Kenya's health budget, exacerbating existing weaknesses in data infrastructure and technology.
Recognising the gravity of the situation, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has proposed a lifeline.
"To safeguard the immunisation gains made over the years, I propose a new framework that demonstrates the government's commitment to the health of Kenyan children and its partnership with Gavi," Duale told delegates during the World Health Assembly on May 25.
Duale recommended that Kenya be reverted to the Preparatory Financing Phase, with a gradual increase in co-financing obligations extended up to 2035—allowing the country to transition sustainably towards full financing of its public health and immunisation programmes.
The dramatic announcement came during Gavi's pledging summit in Brussels, Belgium, where the organisation was hoping to raise $9 billion for the 2026-2030 period. In a shocking video speech to delegates, Kennedy accused Gavi of neglecting vaccine safety, making questionable recommendations around Covid-19 vaccines, and silencing dissenting views.
"I call on Gavi today to re-earn the public trust and to justify the $8 billion that America has provided in funding since 2001," Kennedy said. "And I'll tell you how to start: take vaccine safety seriously, consider the best science available, even when the science contradicts established paradigms."
"Until that happens, the United States won't contribute more to Gavi," he added, alleging that when science was inconvenient, Gavi ignored it.
It remains unclear whether the Trump administration will honour the $1.58 billion pledge announced by former President Joe Biden, though signs indicate the current administration plans to cut its funding for Gavi, which represents approximately $300 million annually.
In response, Gavi defended its safety protocols and decision-making processes.
"Gavi's utmost concern is the health and safety of children," the organisation stated. "Any decision made by Gavi regarding its vaccine portfolio is made in alignment with recommendations by WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (Sage), a group of independent experts that reviews all available data through a rigorous, transparent, and independent process."
Addressing specific concerns about the DTP vaccine, Gavi emphasised that DTP vaccines protect against three infectious diseases that primarily kill children.
"Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that kills five to 10 per cent of those infected, mainly children aged under five. Neonatal tetanus is a major killer of newborns, whilst Pertussis (whooping cough) is a highly contagious and serious respiratory disease that spreads easily and is fatal in one in 200 cases among infants."
The organisation noted that the disease burden for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis in lower-income countries is much higher than in high-income countries, and health systems are far less equipped to offer frequent booster doses. "For these reasons, Sage recommends the use of DTPw which offers longer-lasting protection."
Global philanthropist Bill Gates described the US government's move as "a perilous time for the world's poorest children."
"I've been giving speeches about vaccines for 25 years. After so much time, it could have become routine for me. But it never has," Gates said. "One reason is that the impact of vaccines—a single dose can protect a child from deadly diseases forever—is like a miracle to me, and who gets tired of talking about miracles?"
Gates warned that 2025 will likely be the first year since the turn of the century when child mortality increases rather than decreases. "Why? Governments are cutting health aid—including funds for Gavi, the vaccine organisation that the Gates Foundation helped start. As a result, Gavi will likely not have all the money it needs to fund its next five years of work."
He highlighted Gavi's remarkable achievements over the past 25 years, noting that under-five deaths have declined faster than any time in history, dropping from over nine million to half that number.
"This is an unbelievable result, even though it doesn't fully state the benefit of vaccines. The vaccines leave a lot of kids far healthier, and so their ability to achieve their potential is increased."
Gates emphasised Gavi's scientific rigour and continuous improvement efforts. "We're constantly improving vaccines. We're constantly looking at the safety, and I'm very proud of the work that's done to make sure that these vaccines are incredibly safe."
Since Gavi's founding, the overall cost of fully vaccinating a child has been cut by more than half, with new vaccines in the pipeline addressing new diseases and bringing costs down further. Gates cited the HPV vaccine as a prime example, noting that cervical cancer—which HPV prevents—is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide, and the vaccine can prevent over 90 per cent of cases.
As of June 30, 2025, Kenya has paid Sh1 billion of the Sh1.5 billion owed to Gavi for vaccine replenishment and has already received its first consignment, according to Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr Ouma Oluga.
