HHS Secretary RFK Jr. announced the U.S. would cut off funding to GAVI, a Bill Gates-backed global vaccine alliance, until it takes steps to “re-earn the public’s trust.”
The details: In a short pre-recorded speech shown at a GAVI meeting in Brussels this week, Kennedy criticized the global vaccine group, primarily due to its actions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Kennedy says the organization:
- Pushed “social media companies to silence dissenting views” and “stifle free speech.”
- Made “questionable recommendations” such as “encouraging pregnant women to receive COVID-19 vaccines.”
DPT vaccine: Kennedy singles out GAVI’s promotion of the DTP vaccine in developing countries, citing major peer-reviewed studies showing that girls who receive it are up to 10 times more likely to die from all causes within their first six months of life. Notably, the DTP vaccine is no longer used in the developed world.
- GAVI responded to this in a statement saying it “continues to have full confidence” in the DTP vaccine.
The numbers: The United States contributes roughly $300 million annually to GAVI.
No more cash: RFK Jr. says the U.S. will not contribute to GAVI until it can “re-earn the public trust” and “justify the $8 billion that America has provided in funding since 2001.”
Ties to Gates: GAVI has strong ties to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which is its largest private donor, contributing $7.7 billion to it over the last 25 years. Bill Gates has been a vocal mouthpiece for COVID-19 vaccines.
The last word goes to Kennedy, who said: “Business as usual is over. Unaccountable and opaque policy-making is over… I invite all of you to join us in a new era of evidence-based medicine.”
