UK Funding Cuts Threaten Global Vaccination Efforts with Gavi

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The United Kingdom is reportedly planning to reduce its funding for Gavi, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, which has successfully vaccinated over 1.1 billion children in developing countries over a span of 25 years. This potential cut is alarming aid charities, particularly as it follows recent funding suspensions by the United States under Donald Trump's administration. According to officials and aid organizations, the UK's cuts are largely driven by a decrease in the overall aid budget from 0.7% to 0.5% of GDP and a reallocation of funds to assist asylum seekers.

Aid groups argue that Gavi has played a crucial role in preventing nearly 18 million deaths and is aligned with UK priorities of addressing gender disparities and bolstering self-sufficiency in developing nations. Kitty Arie, CEO of Results UK, emphasized that reducing support for Gavi would "cost lives." Additionally, Katie Husselby from Action for Global Health contextualized the funding decision amid broader global health challenges.

Monica Harding, spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, criticized the potential cut and urged the government to maintain its leadership in child immunization worldwide.

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