HomeHealthUS Funding Freeze Threatens Global Malaria Vaccine Efforts

US Funding Freeze Threatens Global Malaria Vaccine Efforts

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The Trump administration’s spending freeze has halted the USAid Malaria Vaccine Development Program, threatening global efforts to combat malaria and potentially setting back research by years.

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The sudden halt of the USAid Malaria Vaccine Development Program (MVDP) due to the Trump administration’s spending freeze is set to have far-reaching consequences for global health research.

DATACARD
Understanding US Funding Freeze

A funding freeze in the United States refers to a temporary halt on government spending and allocation of funds.
This can occur due to various reasons, including budget constraints, political disagreements, or economic downturns.
According to a report by the Congressional Budget Office, a federal funding freeze can have significant impacts on programs, services, and projects that rely heavily on government funding.
In 2013, the US experienced a 16-day government shutdown, resulting in an estimated $2 billion loss in revenue.

Mothers and children wait to receive a shot of a malaria vaccine as part of a pilot program in Gisambai, Kenya, on March 7, 2023. Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images

The MVDP aims to reduce the impact of malaria on children living in malaria-endemic areas worldwide. In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 450,000 under-5s are killed by malaria each year. While the introduction of two malaria vaccines in 2024 was hailed as transformative, MVDP-funded research aimed to make them more effective and longer-lasting.

DATACARD
Malaria Vaccine: A Breakthrough in Disease Prevention

The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved two malaria vaccines, RTS,S and R21, for use in countries with high transmission rates.

These vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of severe malaria by 30-40% in children under five.

The RTS,S vaccine has undergone rigorous testing and has been administered to over 1 million people worldwide.

Malaria is a significant public health concern, causing over 400,000 deaths annually.

Vaccination efforts aim to complement existing control measures like bed nets and insecticides.

A senior academic involved with the programme for several years warned that the sudden halt would set back research, including ongoing trials in humans and animals. They highlighted the ‘huge safety implications’ of suddenly shutting down projects, which often test new vaccines in humans for the first time.

The USAid funding freeze and stop or suspend work orders cover an initial period of 90 days while a review is carried out. However, multiple sources in the health research field expressed concerns about who would have the expertise to carry out such a review, given that many senior officials at US health bodies had been fired.

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Tom Drake, senior policy analyst at the Center for Global Development, emphasized that the impact of cuts to research funding was less visible and immediate than the implications for life-saving programmes but no less real. He noted that even if other funders stepped in to plug gaps in malaria vaccine funding, there would always be an opportunity cost, resulting in some other development research issue being neglected.

Prof Kelly Chibale of the H3D research centre at the University of Cape Town warned that a project working to create a platform to manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients necessary for antiretrovirals in South Africa was at risk. He stated that they were urgently seeking alternative funding mechanisms to continue this important work and retain team members.

Prof Kenneth Ngure, president-elect of the International Aids Society, highlighted the risks of projects testing HIV prevention options such as injectable drugs and vaginal rings globally receiving stop work orders. Even if projects are reinstated after a 90-day pause, there will still be ‘a lot of damage,’ he said.

The abrupt halt in funding could lead to a shortage of essential medications, including injectable HIV prevention drugs not yet available outside research settings. Participants may be left without an alternative source for treatment, putting them at risk of infection and developing drug resistance.

DATACARD
Effective HIV Prevention Methods

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication can reduce the risk of HIV infection by up to 99% when taken correctly.

Condoms and dental dams provide significant protection against HIV transmission during sex.

Regular testing and treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART) for those already infected can also prevent HIV transmission to others.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that sexually active individuals get tested for HIV at least once a year, and more frequently if they have multiple partners or engage in high-risk behaviors.

Ngure emphasized the need for reconsideration of this decision, citing the huge support from the US government in averting many infections and controlling the HIV pandemic in recent years. He warned that stopping now would mean going backwards, potentially for many years or even decades.

A state department spokesperson referred to a waiver issued on Wednesday for life-saving humanitarian assistance but did not address the concerns raised by researchers and experts in the field.

SOURCES
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