To the editor:
In its latest assault on foreign aid, the Trump Administration has decided to halt all investments in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. This is a terrible decision.
Since 2000, Gavi has helped immunize more than 1 billion children and prevent over 17 million deaths. They have a plan to immunize the next billion children in half the time and at an even lower cost per child. As with other vital foreign aid, this is the kind of success story we should be building on, not taking away from. If U.S. funding stops, 75 million kids will lose access to vaccines in the next five years. 1.2 million of them will die as a result.
It’s hard to think of a better, higher impact example of U.S. international assistance than access to lifesaving vaccines for kids. I demand our members of Congress to push the Administration to reverse the decision to cut funds for Gavi and also reinstate critical humanitarian and development aid that focuses on tuberculosis, HIV, malaria, nutrition, education, and more.
Sincerely,
William Deignan
Medford
