A decision by the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in vaccine funding is raising alarm among global health groups, who warn that tens of thousands of children in low-income countries could die if the money is not released.

The dispute centers on $600 million approved by Congress for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, a global partnership that supplies vaccines to some of the world’s poorest countries. 

According to reporting by POLITICO’s Carmen Paun, the funds are now being held back under the Trump administration, with Kennedy linking the delay to concerns over vaccine safety and transparency.

The move has intensified tensions between U.S. health officials, lawmakers, and international health agencies, while also reopening long-running debates over vaccine policy inside and outside the United States.

Funding dispute puts global immunization programs at risk

Gavi says it has not received the expected U.S. contributions for the current and previous fiscal years, which make up roughly 15% of its budget. The organization supports vaccination programs in more than 50 low-income countries, targeting diseases such as measles, polio, malaria, and whooping cough.

The alliance warns that the funding gap could disrupt vaccine delivery at a time when several countries are already facing strained health systems.

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Sania Nishtar, Gavi’s chief executive, told AFP that cuts from multiple, including the United States, are already affecting malaria vaccination programs across Africa.

She estimated that tens of thousands of children could die as a result of reduced immunization coverage.

The U.S. co-founded Gavi 25 years ago and has historically been one of its largest financial supporters. The current funding standoff, however, has created uncertainty about future American participation.

Vaccine safety concerns and political pressure

The Trump administration, through statements from the Health and Human Services Department, has accused Gavi of failing to provide detailed data on how U.S. funds are used and has raised concerns about vaccines containing thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative.

Kennedy has argued that some vaccines used in developing countries include ingredients that the United States has largely phased out. He has called for Gavi to stop using such formulations and to provide more information on safety standards and procurement practices.

Gavi and global health experts reject those concerns, saying the vaccines remain safe and are adapted to conditions in poorer countries, where refrigeration and access to health services are limited.

The dispute has also drawn in Congress. Senator Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said her office is in contact with Gavi and plans to urge Secretary of State Marco Rubio to release the funds in line with congressional intent.

“Gavi has helped vaccinate more than one billion children and supported global health security,” Collins said in a statement cited by POLITICO.

Scientific debate and international response

Kennedy has also questioned the safety of a vaccine used to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, arguing that it was discontinued in the United States due to safety concerns.

However, the World Health Organization says more recent research does not support claims of widespread harm.

Gavi continues to use the vaccine, saying it provides longer-lasting protection and requires fewer doses an important factor in countries with limited healthcare access.

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The Trump administration withdrew the United States from the World Health Organization in January, further complicating coordination on global vaccination efforts.

Why this matters

The dispute over Gavi funding goes beyond a budget disagreement. It directly affects vaccination campaigns in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions, where diseases that are largely controlled in wealthier countries remain a leading cause of child deaths.

Health experts warn that delays or cuts in funding could reverse decades of progress in reducing preventable diseases such as measles and polio. In many of the affected countries, a single disrupted vaccination campaign can lead to rapid outbreaks.

At the center of the controversy is a broader question: how U.S. domestic political decisions under President Donald Trump are shaping global health outcomes far beyond American borders, with consequences measured not in policy terms, but in lives lost or saved.