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23h ago

HHS cancels $766 million Moderna contract for H5N1 bird flu vaccine

Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. flagged safety gaps in under-tested mRNA technology when pulling funding for a program with promising interim trial data that experts warn was vital for pandemic preparedness.

Moderna logo is seen in Warsaw, Poland on April 9, 2025. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
FILE - A patient is given a flu vaccine Oct. 28, 2022, in Lynwood, Calif. On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the U.S. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
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Overview

  • BARDA had awarded Moderna $176 million in July 2024 and $590 million in January 2025 to support development of an mRNA-based H5N1 vaccine, which HHS has now rescinded.
  • HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon stated that a rigorous review found the under-tested mRNA platform did not meet scientific or ethical standards for continued government investment.
  • Moderna reported that its Phase 1/2 clinical trial showed a robust, durable immune response and favorable safety profile in roughly 300 healthy adults and said it will pursue alternative development paths.
  • H5N1 bird flu continues to spread among poultry and more than 1,000 dairy cattle herds in 17 states, with at least 70 human infections and one death reported.
  • Public health experts, including former White House Covid-19 coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha, warn that removing rapid-response vaccine funding risks weakening U.S. preparedness for future outbreaks.