Trump Administration Scraps $766 Million Moderna Deal for Pandemic Flu: What It Means for Future Preparedness

The Trump administration has axed $766 million in funding for Moderna Inc. This money was meant to help develop a vaccine against potential pandemic viruses like H5N1, also known as bird flu. Moderna learned about the funding cancellation last Wednesday from the Health and Human Services Department.

This funding came through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), which aims to create medical treatments for possible pandemics. The vaccine in development, called mRNA-1018, uses the same technology Moderna employed to rapidly create COVID-19 vaccines.

Interestingly, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has voiced doubts about mRNA vaccines, despite substantial evidence proving their safety and how they’ve saved countless lives.

Just as the funding was pulled, Moderna announced promising results from an early trial of its H5 bird flu vaccine. In tests with 300 healthy adults, the vaccine showed a strong immune response and a good safety profile. Moderna expressed confidence in these findings, even though the funding loss has introduced some uncertainty.

H5N1 bird flu has already affected animals in the U.S., with hundreds of cattle infected last year. Although at least 70 people have fallen ill, most cases have been mild, with one tragic death. Experts worry that the virus could mutate, potentially making it easier to spread among humans and leading to a pandemic.

The funding that was canceled included $176 million awarded in July and $590 million in January. This January funding was critical for supporting late-stage trials to confirm the vaccine’s effectiveness against pandemics, particularly bird flu.

This move highlights the ongoing challenges in pandemic preparedness. The tension between political opinions and scientific progress underscores the complexity of public health strategies. As the world faces increasing health threats, it’s crucial to stay informed and remain focused on solutions that can better prepare us for potential crises.

For more information on pandemics and vaccine developments, you can visit resources like the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Medication, Immunizations, Bird flu, Pandemics, Flu, General news, Health, Moderna, Inc., Business, Washington news, Clinical trials, Washington News