NIH Cuts Vaccine Research Grants Amid Measles Outbreak

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is canceling or scaling back over 40 research grants focused on vaccine hesitancy and strategies to improve vaccine acceptance, amidst a significant measles outbreak in the US. This decision follows a directive from the Trump administration and is allegedly linked to the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine advocate, to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. The NIH's internal email, obtained by various sources, stated the agency's shift in funding priorities away from vaccine-related research. Researchers and public health experts have expressed concern, noting the importance of understanding vaccine hesitancy to improve public health outcomes. The move could impact the careers of young researchers and is seen as controversial, especially given the ongoing public health challenges related to vaccine-preventable diseases. The decision has sparked a debate about the implications for public health and scientific research priorities.