One million children could die if US funding for vaccines ends

In recent days, a major concern has emerged regarding United States federal funding for Gavi, a global vaccine alliance that plays a crucial role in immunizing children against infectious diseases. Dr. Sania Nishtar, the Chief Executive of Gavi, has stated that the organization has not yet received any official termination notice from the US government regarding their funding, which amounts to over $1 billion in pledged support. There has, however, been a report indicating that the Trump administration may be planning to cut this funding, which sparks fear of catastrophic consequences for global health, particularly for children in developing countries. Based in Geneva, Gavi has historically been instrumental in helping immunize more than 1 billion children, averting 19 million deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, malaria, and pneumonia. Dr. Nishtar highlighted that if the planned cuts go through, approximately 75 million children would miss out on necessary immunizations. This raises serious concerns about the potential resurgence of previously controlled diseases, which poses a risk not only to the children affected but also to public health worldwide. The situation is exacerbated by a leaked spreadsheet from the United States Agency for International Aid, which reveals that the government is contemplating terminating more than 5,341 awards to various international aid groups, including Gavi. This decision is seen as a part of President Trump's