Tag Archives: vaccine policy

Calamitous Impact of U.S. Withdrawal from Gavi Funding

Posted on by

Stephanie Nolen, NY Times 6/25/25: Kennedy Withdraws U.S. Funding Pledge to International Vaccine Agency

An excerpt:

The United States will withdraw its financial support of Gavi, the global organization that helps purchase vaccines for children in poor countries, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the United States secretary of Health and Human Services, told the group’s leaders on Wednesday, accusing them of having “ignored the science” in immunizing children around the world…

“Any decision made by Gavi with regards to its vaccine portfolio is made in alignment with recommendations by the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), a group of independent experts that reviews all available data through a rigorous, transparent and independent process,” Gavi’s statement said…

Dr. Atul Gawande, a surgeon who led global health work in the Biden administration, called Mr. Kennedy’s remarks “stunning and calamitous…”

The United States was the largest donor to Gavi, whose work is estimated to have saved the lives of 17 million children around the world over the past two decades…

Gavi had hoped to raise $9 billion for the 2026-30 period, funds the organization said would allow it to purchase 500 million childhood vaccinations and to save at least eight million lives by 2030. ..

The decision to end U.S. support for Gavi — which was included in the rescission package passed by Congress and now being considered by the Senate — leaves the organization with an immense hole in its budget…The Gates Foundation is maintaining its funding at a stable level from previous years — about $350 million in each of the next four years — as is the United Kingdom.

My take: It is no exaggeration to say that the shift in U.S. vaccine policy may result in hundreds of thousands of deaths every year. In addition, U.S. travelers will be more likely to be exposed to vaccine-preventable illnesses as well.

Related blog posts:

RFK Jr. Ousts Entire CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee

Posted on by

AP News 6/09/25: RFK Jr. ousts entire CDC vaccine advisory committee

An excerpt:

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday removed every member of a scientific committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to use vaccines and pledged to replace them with his own picks.

Major physicians and public health groups criticized the move to oust all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices… Kennedy wrote in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece. “A clean sweep is needed to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science…”

Kennedy is going against what he told lawmakers and the public…Kennedy’s move, coupled with declining vaccination rates across the country, will help drive an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases…

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a doctor who had expressed reservations about Kennedy’s nomination but voted to install him as the nation’s health secretary nonetheless, said he had spoken with Kennedy moments after the announcement.

“Of course, now the fear is that the ACIP will be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion,” Cassidy said in a social media post. “I’ve just spoken with Secretary Kennedy, and I’ll continue to talk with him to ensure this is not the case.”

RFK Jr alleges ACIP committee members are laden with conflicts of interest as the rationale for this move; however, his editorial lists little evidence of this. Just last month, HHS leaders announced that COVID vaccination was no longer recommend for pregnant women; these women and their infants in the first 6 months of life are at increased risk of COIVD deaths and complications. The pattern of undermining expertise in utilizing vaccines will have far-reaching repercussions. Unfortunately, the trajectory for public health is even more worrisome. It is likely that there will be more measures to limit vaccine availability. Though, it will be a while until the full body count will be determined.

My take: Senator Cassidy, a physician, allowed RFK Jr to lead HHS despite misgivings; this was due to political considerations rather than qualifications. This decision and his lack of action to hold him accountable are a true betrayal of his constituents and to the principle of ‘Do No Harm.’

Link to AAP Statement: AAP Statement on Changes to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

Related blog posts:

It is funny that the city of Roswell highlights an award for excellence in park and recreation management on a trashcan. This type of honor, though, could be replicated for the work of the current HHS secretary.

The President-Elect and the Anti-Vaccine Crowd

Posted on by

Multiple sources have reported that the anti-vaccine crowd is pleased with the results of the 2016 presidential election.

From Slate (11/22/16): Trump reportedly assured vaccine skeptics of of his support

An excerpt:

The president-elect has a long history of vaccine misinformation; he first began to express his beliefs that there might be a relationship between vaccines and autism nearly a decade ago—years after this association was scientifically discredited. He’s repeated these ideas over the years, and he never found it necessary to correct or refine his position during the election…

Jennifer Larson, CEO of the autism-focused Holland Center, in which she explained that she and other vaccination skeptics discussed their concerns with Trump at a donor event in August. According to her account, Trump assured them that he’s on their side.

From StatNews (11/30/16): Meeting with Trump emboldens anti-vaccine activists, who see an ally in the Oval Office

An excerpt:

“For the first time in a long time, I feel very positive about this, because Donald Trump is not beholden to the pharmaceutical industry,” movement leader Andrew Wakefield told STAT in a phone interview…

A former doctor whose medical license was revoked, Wakefield launched the movement to question the safety of vaccines nearly two decades ago with a fraudulent study (which has since been retracted) suggesting that a widely administered vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella can cause autism…

Those who seek to undercut trust in vaccines “see in Donald Trump a fellow traveler — someone who, like them, is willing to basically ignore scientific studies and say, ‘This is true. Vaccines cause autism because I believe it’s true,’” said Dr. Paul Offit, the head of the infectious diseases department at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

My take: There is a reason anti-vaxxers see Donald Trump as a fellow traveler.

Acadia Natl Park

Acadia Natl Park