Trump Restores $600 Million Gavi Funding After Mercury-Free Vaccine Deal

3 articles · Updated · The Seattle Times · Jul 30

$600 million in U.S. funding for Gavi was reinstated after the alliance agreed to remove mercury compounds from shots for hepatitis B, meningitis, pneumonia and other diseases before the money expires Sept. 30.
The agreement also requires Gavi to create a dedicated official to track vaccine-science developments, and it brings the U.S. back onto the organization's board.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long opposed thimerosal in childhood vaccines despite extensive research finding the preservative safe; it is used in multidose vials to prevent bacterial contamination at lower cost.
Gavi had already been shifting some vaccines to thimerosal-free versions but had not committed across all products. The group said it would make every effort to carry out the changes.
The funding had been withheld last year, drawing criticism from public-health officials and lawmakers. Gavi says it has immunized more than 1.2 billion children and helped prevent 20.6 million deaths since 2000.