WHO welcomes U.S. return to global vaccine alliance Gavi

The World Health Organization has welcomed the United States' decision to rejoin the Gavi vaccine alliance. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed hope that Washington would also reconsider its membership in the WHO itself.

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He hoped that Washington would also reconsider its membership in the World Health Organization (WHO).

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Tuesday that the U.S. would resume cooperation with Gavi. The alliance unites public and private donors to make vaccines for critical diseases accessible at affordable prices in developing nations. Gavi states it supports vaccinations for more than half the world's children against diseases like COVID-19, Ebola, malaria, and polio.

The U.S. had previously cut its annual contributions to Gavi, approximately $300 million, last year. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. cited safety concerns, specifically the use of a mercury-containing preservative in vaccines, which he alleged was linked to autism and other neurological disorders. However, no scientific evidence supports these claims.

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Washington would resume cooperation with Gavi.

Rubio indicated that cooperation with Gavi would be managed through the State Department, as was customary. He also stated that Health Secretary Kennedy would maintain a "leading role" in Gavi financing matters. Gavi CEO Sania Nishtar expressed encouragement from Rubio's remarks, noting that releasing Congressionally approved funds would bolster global protection against infectious diseases, including the development of vaccines for the rare Ebola variant Bundibugyo currently causing a deadly outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Gavi has pledged up to $50 million for this effort.

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I am very encouraged by Secretary Rubio's statements.