The United States announced on July 29 that it will release $600 million in Congressionally appropriated funds to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 following commitments to strengthen vaccine safety, improve public health, and increase transparency.
According to the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Health and Human Services, President Trump directed Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Secretary of State Marco Rubio last year to engage directly with Gavi before considering future support. The resulting discussions led to significant reforms aligning Gavi’s work with what the Administration describes as Gold Standard Science.
Gavi has committed to transitioning away from mercury-containing vaccines by working with its Board and partner countries to adopt mercury-free alternatives for several key immunizations. These include replacing meningococcal A vaccines with versions that protect against additional strains; moving from pentavalent DTP-Hib-HepB vaccines containing mercury to hexavalent, mercury-free options that also cover polio; upgrading pneumococcal vaccines; and providing mercury-free hepatitis B alternatives.
The statement says reducing reliance on mercury-containing vaccines is a pro-vaccine policy consistent with past actions by the United States and European Union, which removed mercury from most childhood vaccines 25 years ago. As of June 2025, CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices no longer recommends any mercury-containing vaccines for use in children.
Additional reforms implemented by Gavi include ending promotion or procurement of COVID-19 vaccines for routine immunization programs, reorganizing staff in Geneva, instituting a partnership accountability framework affecting engagement with other partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), and establishing a dedicated Secretariat function focused on monitoring vaccine science developments including safety.
The United States expects to resume its seat on the Gavi Board given its renewed funding commitment. It will continue evaluating future support based on performance measures related to these reforms, while reaffirming that no U.S. Government funding will be provided indirectly or directly through Gavi to WHO.