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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Tuesday that Washington will “re-engage” with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, as a deadly Ebola outbreak spreads through several African countries.
The decision marks a shift from last year, when the United States withdrew $1.58 billion in support after vaccine-sceptic Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr raised safety concerns without providing evidence.
Speaking during a congressional hearing, Rubio stated that while the administration supported Kennedy’s push for reforms, the State Department will now actively work to secure a positive funding outcome.
Gavi Chief Sania Nishtar welcomed Rubio’s remarks, noting that unlocking the funds previously appropriated by Congress would allow the organisation to continue protecting the world from infectious diseases.
The group brings together public and private donors to provide developing countries with affordable immunisations, protecting more than half of the world’s children from diseases like malaria, polio, cholera, and Covid-19.
The renewed US commitment arrives at a critical time for global health security.
Gavi recently pledged up to $50 million to accelerate the production of future vaccines against the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola.
Developers are currently rushing to scale up manufacturing of this vaccine as the rare strain drives a lethal outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
