Voices: As LDS women of faith, we’re distressed by pullback from vaccines. You should be, too.

As women of faith who recognize the powerful influence of American leadership in global health, last week’s news that the United States intends to slash funding to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, is deeply distressing.

Christian theology is rooted in the infinite worth of every soul and a strong commitment to community stewardship, so, to us, this feels like more than just a bureaucratic shift. It’s a moral failing.

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a long and proud tradition of supporting vaccinations. The faith also has had a long partnership with Gavi, beginning with a significant gift in 2012 and, more recently, another major donation to support malaria immunization campaigns in Africa.

In 1957, the First Presidency publicly encouraged Latter-day Saints to receive the polio vaccine. Our leaders were among the first to receive and promote the COVID-19 vaccine, calling it a “literal godsend.” This was not a political gesture. It was an act of care. Vaccines give us the ability to care for our neighbors while also caring for ourselves as we extend the protections of immunity outward to those who might not otherwise be able to enjoy it.

Gavi has helped vaccinate more than a billion children since its founding. It represents one of the most successful public-private partnerships in global health history, with the U.S. playing a leading role. Now, as a new strain of bird flu threatens to jump species and spread across borders, we are not stepping up — we are stepping back.

This is a grave mistake.

We know what it means to care for the sick and afflicted. We know God works miracles through science and modern medicine. He can also work through governments and institutions to bless the lives of his children.

Gavi is a model of this kind of inspired collaboration. It brings together scientists and faith leaders who understand that global health is not just a technical challenge but a moral one. The work that Latter-day Saint Charities does, combined with countless humanitarian efforts by individual church members around the globe, is a testament to our collective determination to care for the least of these. We want government to be a reflection of our best selves, and Gavi is an example of exactly that. Our compassion should guide our politics as much as our prayers.

Some may argue that American taxpayers shouldn’t fund vaccines abroad when needs persist at home. But this is a false choice. The truth is, pandemics do not respect borders. Investing in vaccines globally makes us all safer. It is also the kind of smart, high-impact aid that stretches our dollars far and wide — exactly the kind of stewardship our faith teaches us to value.

More than that, it’s the right thing to do.

As leaders of a faith-based organization committed to ethical governance, we urge our nation’s leaders to reconsider. Let us not abandon our post at a time of global vulnerability. Let us lead with wisdom and compassion. As the Lord commands in our scriptures: “Succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.”

Our greatness is not measured by how fiercely we protect our own but by how faithfully we care for our neighbors in our global community— especially when it requires courage, commitment and conscience.

Emma Petty Addams is the co-executive director for Mormon Women for Ethical Government.

Jill Fairholm is an advocacy consultant for Mormon Women for Ethical Government.

The Salt Lake Tribune is committed to creating a space where Utahns can share ideas, perspectives and solutions that move our state forward. We rely on your insight to do this. Find out how to share your opinion here, and email us at voices@sltrib.com.