Trump administration cancels $766M Moderna contract for pandemic flu vaccine

Trump administration to cancel a $766 million contract with Moderna for the development of an mRNA-based vaccine against pandemic influenza viruses, including H5N1, raises significant concerns regarding public health preparedness. The funds, which were allocated through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) in 2024, were intended to support late-stage clinical trials necessary for determining the vaccine's efficacy against potential pandemic threats . This cancellation occurred despite promising interim results from early-stage trials, highlighting a disconnect between political decisions and scientific progress.

Trump administration has cancelled a contract awarded to Moderna for the late-stage development of its bird flu vaccine for humans, as well as the right to purchase shots, according to the drugmaker.

Moderna in January was awarded $590 million by the Biden administration to advance the development of its bird flu vaccine, and support the expansion of clinical studies for up to five additional subtypes of pandemic influenza

This was in addition to $176 million awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services last year to complete the late-stage development and testing of a pre-pandemic mRNA-based vaccine against the H5N1 avian influenza.

The funds were awarded through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, a program that focuses on medical treatments for potential pandemics.

Covid-19 in record time.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has expressed deep skepticism regarding mRNA vaccines, despite real-world evidence that the vaccines are safe and saved millions of lives.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the H5N1 flu virus has spread to 41 dairy herds, and 24 poultry farms and culling operations, and caused 70 human cases. While the virus has had a high mortality rate in other countries, so far H5N1 has only caused one death in the U.S. and has not shown any signs of spreading easily from one person to another. But infectious disease experts are concerned that the more the virus spreads, the greater the chance it could mutate into a form that would spread from person to person, which would increase the risk of a pandemic.

This abrupt termination of funding not only jeopardizes future vaccine development but also underscores a broader issue related to funding priorities in pandemic preparedness. As global health experts emphasize the importance of proactive measures against emerging infectious diseases, such cancellations could undermine efforts to safeguard public health . The reliance on mRNA technology demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic illustrates its potential; hence, discontinuing such initiatives may have lasting repercussions on national and global health security.

Read more

Sara H

Also on site :

• Dreamy Boracay escape
• Parents’ intuition more likely to predict child’s critical illness than checking vital signs, study finds
• Falling for Manila’s cultural whirlwind