U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the organization has “ignored the science" and “lost the public trust.”

The UK has confirmed its support for global vaccination by pledging £1.25bn to global vaccine group Gavi while the US will halt funding to the international organisation. A provider of free jabs for meningitis,

Gavi works to expand access to vaccines for children in some of the world’s poorest countries. Health experts say the move could have deadly consequences.