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HHS Halts $500 Million in mRNA Vaccine Projects, Experts Warn of Preparedness Gaps

Citing data on mRNA’s underperformance against respiratory infections, Kennedy pledged redirection of funds toward broader vaccine platforms.

Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams is pictured testifying during a hearing in Washington, D.C., about the coronavirus crisis in 2021.
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Former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Friday, April 3, 2020, in Washington
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Overview

  • HHS officially terminated 22 BARDA mRNA vaccine development projects valued at nearly $500 million, including Moderna’s H5N1 avian flu contract.
  • Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams and other public-health experts warned the cuts will cost lives by undermining rapid-response vaccine capacity.
  • Researchers cautioned that ending late-stage trials and funding withdrawals threaten the vaccine-development workforce and future platform maturation.
  • Critics underscored mRNA’s proven role in accelerating COVID-19 vaccine availability and saving millions during Operation Warp Speed.
  • HHS has not yet outlined which non-mRNA platforms will receive the reallocated funding or provided timelines for new investments.