USA’s vaccine donation claim shakes UNICEF committee debate
During the UNICEF Committee session at the Lifelink Tertiary Model United Nations (LTMUN) 2025 conference, the delegate of the United States boldly declared that “USA is the largest [and hugest] donor of vaccines worldwide.” The statement, made during a moderated caucus on “addressing child malnutrition crises”, quickly sparked heated debate when no evidence was presented to support it.
The committee is focused on how conflict and climate change aggravate child malnutrition, creating a delicate balance between humanitarian intervention and state sovereignty. While the U.S. delegate stressed the importance of regional and bilateral cooperation in UNICEF’s fight against malnutrition, his sweeping claim about vaccine donations took center stage.
The Chairperson and delegates immediately pressed for proof, but the U.S. representative could not provide any source. This prompted follow-up questions from Latvia and Senegal, who challenged America’s credibility.
Latvia’s delegate, taken aback, asked why the United States while highlighting its role in vaccine donations had voted against the Gaza ceasefire resolution on September 18, when nearly every other member state supported it. Senegal’s delegate further pointed out contradictions between U.S. political actions and humanitarian commitments.
The exchange grew tense, exposing the friction between political interests and humanitarian goals. Despite the U.S. delegate’s emphasis on cooperation as a tool for tackling child malnutrition during conflicts, the absence of data and the shadow of foreign policy decisions cast doubt on his claims.
Bernice Agyeiwaa, BBC, International Press Corps, LTMUN 2025
