The New York Times reported that the U.S. Government is considering ending its support for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. As Civil Society Organizations—including many based in countries directly supported by Gavi—we are deeply alarmed. We have witnessed Gavi's impact firsthand. Withdrawing U.S. funding would be catastrophic—for children, for health systems, and for global health security.

Since its founding 25 years ago, Gavi has protected a generation—vaccinating more than 1 billion children and helping cut child mortality in half across 78 lower-income countries. This kind of progress is only possible when governments, communities, and global organizations work together. If the U.S. walks away now, it would put more than 1 million children's lives at risk. At a time when solidarity is essential, such a retreat would be unconscionable. 

Gavi keeps everyone safe, including Americans. What’s more, everyone pays their way—what people may not realize is that all countries pay a portion for their vaccines with that share increasing as countries are able. Indonesia, for example, no longer gets vaccines through Gavi and funds its own immunization programme. 

Immunization is one of the most powerful tools in global health. A fully funded Gavi would make the world  stronger, safer and more equal. Over the next five years, it can:

• Reach 500 million more children—including  300 million  in Africa—with life-saving vaccines, averting up to 9 million deaths
• Launch its largest-ever investment in health security, equipping countries to respond to over 150 outbreaks
• Deliver malaria vaccines to 50 million children and HPV vaccines to at least 120 million girls, helping prevent cervical cancer
• Reduce the number of zero-dose children through innovative partnerships and technologies
• Unlock over US$100 billion in economic benefits, supporting national growth and long-term resilience
• Partner with countries, which will co-finance nearly half the cost of vaccines as they build resilient  immunization programs
• Gavi’s impact stretches from donor capitals to remote rural clinics. Its efforts prevent deadly, outbreak-prone diseases—measles, yellow fever, meningitis, Ebola—from crossing borders. With measles surging in countries like the U.S. and the U.K., underfunding Gavi would have consequences far beyond the countries Gavi serves. 

We are grateful to the governments that have pledged continued support— and to all those who have fought to secure it. But more is needed.

This is a call to action.

We urge all partners to ensure Gavi is fully funded—not only because of the lives we can save if we succeed, but because of what we stand to lose if we fail. 

No one is safe until everyone is safe.  

As civil society organizations rooted in communities around the world, we call on all global leaders to act—for our collective future. 

The Gavi CSO Constituency