Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has made it clear that his foundation will not cover the shortfall in vaccine funding caused by cuts in U.S. and U.K. foreign aid, despite maintaining its $1.6 billion contribution to Gavi.
Ahead of a major donor summit in Brussels, Gates told the Financial Times that while the foundation would match its current commitment, it would not exceed it to compensate for lost governmental support. “We’re not a substitute,” he said, emphasising that cuts from rich nations must come from their own budgets – not from philanthropy .
The Gavi international vaccine alliance, which aims to raise $9 billion to vaccinate an additional 500 million children over the next five years, currently faces a shortfall due to declining contributions by its top donors. The U.S. and U.K. have both scaled back, and new pledges from other countries have yet to bridge the gap.
Gates warned that without full governmental backing, global child mortality might rise for the first time in decades. He stressed that alternative sources – whether from private donors or philanthropy, cannot fully replace the scale of government funding. The Gates Foundation will maintain its current level ahead of the Brussels event co-hosted by the European Union.
The U.S. withdrawal of support aligns with cuts announced by newly installed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., further complicating efforts to reach Gavi’s fundraising goals. Gates has previously warned the White House that private philanthropy cannot fill gaps left by federal funding, particularly in vaccines and global health initiatives .
Gates reiterated his call for rich nations to restore funding. “Fully funding Gavi is the single most powerful step,” he said, adding that without it child mortality rates could rise again.
Bill Gates Refuses to Fill Spending Gaps by Governments
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