New malaria vaccines are helping Ghana make significant strides in reducing child deaths from the disease, highlighting the potential of immunisation to curb a health crisis that still kills nearly half a million children across Africa each year. However, recent cuts to foreign aid, including from the United States and other wealthy nations, could slow the rollout and leave thousands of children at risk, according to the international vaccine alliance Gavi and Ghana’s health authorities.
Ghana has already made substantial progress against malaria through interventions such as the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets and improved access to preventive drugs and rapid treatment. Now, two newly introduced vaccines—one developed by British pharmaceutical company GSK and another by Oxford University in collaboration with the Serum Institute of India—are helping to close the remaining gap, officials say.
“For me, the malaria vaccine is a gamechanger,” said Dr. Selorm Kutsoati, head of Ghana’s immunisation programme, emphasizing its critical role in protecting children from the deadly disease.
Gavi, currently the only organisation purchasing malaria vaccines for African countries, projects it will spend just over $800 million on malaria vaccination programmes over the next five years, 28% less than the estimated need. The shortfall comes after Gavi fell $2.9 billion short of its funding target for the same period, according to internal documents seen by Reuters.
The funding gap could have serious consequences. Researchers at Imperial College London and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute estimate that up to 19,000 additional child deaths could occur as a result of reduced vaccine coverage. “It is the gap between the promise and the need for the vaccine, and the resources we have to provide that,” said Scott Gordon, head of Gavi’s malaria programme.
Cuts in aid have been driven in part by policy changes in the United States. In June, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy announced that Washington would no longer support Gavi under the Trump administration’s broader foreign aid reductions, citing the government’s “America First” agenda. The U.S. had previously contributed approximately $1.3 billion between 2020 and 2024.
The U.S. government has stipulated that future funding will depend on Gavi phasing out vaccines containing thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative, despite multiple studies showing it poses no risk of autism or neurodevelopmental disorders. Gavi confirmed ongoing discussions with the U.S. and said any decisions would follow the scientific consensus.
Other major donors have also scaled back. The United Kingdom, Gavi’s largest donor, pledged £1.25 billion ($1.72 billion) over the next five years—more than 20% less than its previous commitment for 2020–25.
Experts warn that these reductions could slow the distribution of life-saving vaccines and hinder efforts to reduce child mortality from malaria across the continent, just as Ghana demonstrates the transformative potential of these new immunisations.
