Trump Administration Halts $750 Million in Moderna Vaccine Funding
In a significant financial shift, President Donald Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has terminated over $750 million in awards to Moderna, intended for the development of mRNA-based bird flu vaccines. This decision comes in the wake of the Biden administration’s late 2020 funding allocation, which included $590 million aimed at accelerating the production of these vaccines, alongside an earlier $176 million award.
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, utilized effectively during the COVID-19 pandemic by companies like Moderna and Pfizer, have been under scrutiny due to reported side effects such as myocarditis. HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon cited a lack of scientific justification for continued investment in Moderna’s H5N1 mRNA vaccine, emphasizing concerns over safety and integrity. "We are not going to spend taxpayer dollars repeating the mistakes of the last administration," Nixon stated, referencing past oversight issues under Biden.
The termination aligns with a broader shift in federal vaccine priorities. Recently, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the removal of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from the federal list of recommended vaccines for children and pregnant women, following criticisms that the Biden administration downplayed significant safety data related to myocarditis risks linked to the COVID-19 vaccines.
In response, Moderna acknowledged the funding cut but remained optimistic about its mRNA technology. CEO Stéphane Bancel pointed to positive interim data from its ongoing clinical studies for the H5 avian flu vaccine. “While uncertainty increases due to the funding termination, we are exploring alternative paths forward,” he remarked, highlighting the potential of mRNA technology in addressing emerging health threats.
This announcement marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate around vaccine safety and government funding priorities in the field of public health.
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