US cuts $46 million funding for HIV vaccine project in South Africa

In South Africa, the withdrawal of $46 million in funding for the BRILLIANT HIV vaccine project occurred just one week before vital trials were set to commence. This funding cut was part of a broader reduction in U.S. foreign aid under President Donald Trump, influenced by unfounded claims against the white Afrikaner minority involved in the research. Despite the funding issues, the vaccine tests showed promising immune responses, indicating readiness for trials, as reported by researchers including Glenda Gray. As a direct consequence of the cuts, about 8,000 South African health workers lost their jobs, causing fears of increased HIV infections amidst the crisis. The reductions threaten the financial sustainability of various health initiatives, particularly HIV and tuberculosis research in South African universities and science councils, which could face a combined loss of approximately $107 million over the next five years. Such funding losses are expected to have significant global consequences, worsening health outcomes beyond South Africa. In the wake of these developments, other countries like the UK have also faced pressure to reduce their international aid, albeit in a less abrupt manner than the U.S. cutbacks. British development minister Jenny Chapman has clarified that the UK's approach to cutting foreign aid has been more gradual and deliberate, contrasting it with what has been described as the chaotic nature of U.S. funding reductions. Chapman emphasized that while UK reductions are significant, they are being executed in a way that avoids sudden disruptions in health services, unlike the immediate and substantial cuts made by the U.S. The halting of support from the U.S. is reported to threaten various health initiatives globally. Reports by health experts indicate that the cuts potentially result in millions of additional deaths by 2030 due to disrupted health systems. Furthermore, projects meant for women's health and access to contraception in West and Central Africa are now under scrutiny and may face cancellations due to reduced funding. This situation highlights the grave risk posed to health security globally due to funding withdrawals and emphasizes the urgent need for sustained international collaboration to combat diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis.