LONDON — Bill Gates has ruled out covering funding gaps left by the United States and United Kingdom after both governments reduced their support for global vaccine efforts. Speaking ahead of a major vaccine funding summit in Brussels, Gates confirmed his foundation would maintain its $1.6 billion pledge to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, but not exceed it.
The announcement comes as Gavi targets $9 billion to fund the immunization of 500 million children over the next five years. The US and UK previously Gavi’s two largest government donors have significantly scaled back their contributions, creating uncertainty over the alliance’s ability to meet its goals.
“We’re going to kind of send both messages,” Gates said. “That we’re not a substitute but this is the best buy in global health. Even people who are cutting should prioritize Gavi.”
Gavi, which has helped vaccinate more than 1 billion children since 2000, now faces its toughest funding environment in two decades. Gates warned that ongoing cuts to international health budgets are already producing deadly consequences.
“For the first time in decades, the number of kids dying around the world will likely go up this year instead of down,” Gates said, calling it a reversal of long-term progress. “That is a tragedy. Fully funding Gavi is the single most powerful step we can take to stop it.”
Data from Gavi shows that the US, UK, and Gates Foundation together have contributed more than half of the $42.9 billion raised by the alliance since its inception. But the Biden administration’s proposed budget does not include funds for Gavi. The UK, after slashing its foreign aid by 40% as a share of national income, has yet to confirm its pledge.
“If their contributions fall below $1.6 billion, then I become the biggest donor,” Gates said. “That’s a very strange thing. A single individual should not be the largest backer of institutions like the WHO and Gavi.”
In January, President Trump confirmed the US would withdraw from the World Health Organization. With this move, Gates’ foundation is now expected to be the WHO’s largest funder as well.
Gavi’s work goes beyond routine immunizations. The alliance played a key role in supplying vaccines during global emergencies, including COVID-19, Ebola, and mpox outbreaks. Its vaccines currently target diseases such as measles, meningitis A, and the human papillomavirus, which causes cervical cancer.
In response to the budget strain, Gavi has expanded its donor base, securing first-time pledges from countries like Indonesia and Croatia. It has also increased the use of “vaccine bonds,” allowing nations to spread payments over time.
Indonesia, which once received Gavi support, now contributes as a donor after crossing income benchmarks. Gavi points to this shift as proof of the program’s impact, claiming improved public health leads to long-term economic gains for participating nations.
The Brussels pledging conference, co-hosted by the European Union and the Gates Foundation, aims to secure new commitments despite what organizers call an “incredibly challenging period globally.” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas recently acknowledged the funding void left by the US withdrawal and said Europe is assessing where it can help.
“We cannot fill the void that the US is leaving behind totally,” Kallas said.
As Gavi scrambles to stabilize funding, Gates’ position reflects a clear warning: philanthropic support alone cannot make up for government retreat in global health.
