The Trump administration announced on Wednesday that it will immediately release $600 million in congressionally appropriated funding for vaccines benefiting the world’s poorest countries, reversing a decision to withhold the money over safety concerns raised by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The funding will be directed to Gavi, the Geneva-based global vaccine alliance that helps low-income countries purchase vaccines to protect children against diseases including measles and diphtheria. The decision marks a significant shift after months of uncertainty surrounding U.S. financial support for the organisation.
In June, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signalled that Washington intended to re-engage with Gavi, citing concerns expressed by Congress alongside broader U.S. global health objectives. His comments suggested a willingness to restore cooperation with the alliance despite earlier disagreements over vaccine policy.
The State Department said on Wednesday that the decision to release the funds followed commitments by Gavi “to work towards transitioning mercury-containing vaccines and expanding access to newer, mercury-free alternatives.”
The announcement comes after Gavi Chief Executive Sania Nishtar said in the previous month that the organisation was moving away from vaccines containing a mercury-based preservative that had become the focus of criticism from Kennedy.
Representatives for Gavi did not immediately respond to a request for comment late on Wednesday night in Geneva.
The dispute centred on thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative used in some vaccines. Anti-vaccine groups, including one founded by Kennedy, have for decades claimed that thimerosal is linked to autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. However, many studies have found no related safety concerns.
Kennedy, who has long expressed scepticism about vaccines, announced in June 2025 that the United States would cease providing funding to Gavi, amounting to around $300 million annually. At the time, he argued that the organisation had ignored vaccine safety concerns, although he did not provide evidence to support that claim.
The suspension of U.S. funding placed additional financial pressure on Gavi, which previously received around 13 per cent of its funding from the United States. The organisation has since introduced a series of cost-cutting measures to address the funding gap, a challenge compounded by reductions in contributions from other high-income countries.
The release of the $600 million restores a substantial portion of the financial support that had been withheld and signals a renewed U.S. commitment to the alliance, while linking future cooperation to continued reforms.
The State Department said the United States expects to resume its place on Gavi’s board, restoring its role in the organisation’s governance after the period of uncertainty.
Looking ahead, Washington said any future U.S. support for Gavi would depend on the organisation’s “demonstrated performance, accountability, and implementation” of the agreed reforms.
The decision represents a renewed phase in U.S. engagement with the global vaccine alliance, ending a funding dispute that had raised concerns about the future of immunisation programmes serving some of the world’s poorest countries while establishing new conditions for continued American support.
