HHS Cancels $766 Million Moderna Bird Flu Vaccine Contracts

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has canceled over $700 million in funding allocated to Moderna for the development of mRNA vaccines targeting potential pandemic influenza viruses, including the H5N1 bird flu. Despite Moderna reporting positive interim trial results showing the vaccine candidate mRNA-1018 to be well tolerated and eliciting a strong immune response, HHS cited an internal review concluding the program did not meet scientific standards or safety expectations necessary for continued federal investment. This decision reflects skepticism within the current administration, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has expressed doubts about mRNA vaccine technology despite its widely credited success during the COVID-19 pandemic. The cancellation follows concerns about mRNA technology's safety and a desire not to repeat perceived past mistakes, even as bird flu continues to spread among animals and has caused dozens of human infections, raising fears about its pandemic potential. Moderna plans to explore alternative ways to advance the vaccine's development amid this funding withdrawal. The move has sparked debate considering the ongoing threat posed by bird flu and the importance of pandemic preparedness.