Washington: The Trump administration is preparing to withdraw US funding for Gavi, the global vaccine initiative, and significantly reduce support for malaria control programs. This decision is outlined in documents obtained by The New York Times, which were shared on Wednesday.

According to Anadolu Agency, a comprehensive 281-page spreadsheet from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) was sent to Congress on Monday night. This document details the proposed cuts to foreign aid programs, including the termination of over 5,000 programs while maintaining just under 900. The overall budget is expected to see a substantial reduction.

Gavi, known for providing vaccines to children in developing nations, stands to lose $2.6 billion in US support. Experts have raised concerns that this funding cut will result in 75 million children missing essential vaccinations over the next five years, potentially leading to 1.2 million deaths. The United States has historically been a significant donor to Gavi, contributing 13% of its budget. The proposed cuts are also expected to impact malaria control efforts in countries such as Cameroon and Tanzania.

According to NYT, despite these cuts, the administration has chosen to continue funding grants for medications to treat HIV and tuberculosis and maintain food aid for countries afflicted by civil wars and natural disasters.