Trump administration rescinds plans for the formation of a bird flu vaccine
Federal authorities announced Wednesday the termination of a contract with Moderna to develop an mRNA vaccine for avian flu strains, citing concerns about the technology's safety. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) decided to halt a $766 million contract following a thorough review, stating that ongoing investment in Moderna's H5N1 mRNA vaccine was not scientifically or ethically justifiable.
According to HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon, the focus will shift to vaccine platforms with a better-established safety profile, emphasizing evidence-based, ethically grounded, and publicly accountable technologies to advance pandemic preparedness.
Jennifer Nuzzo, director of Brown University's Pandemic Center, expressed disappointment but understood the decision given the politically charged discussions around mRNA vaccines. However, she cautioned that alternative methods for manufacturing flu vaccines might be slower, with some potentially relying on eggs that could be in short supply during a pandemic.
Despite Moderna's positive interim results from a Phase 1/2 clinical trial, with about 300 healthy participants, the company expects uncertainty as grants and contracts supporting the program's advancement have been discontinued. Stéphane Bancel, Moderna's CEO, indicated that the company will explore alternative paths to continue the project and highlighted the critical role mRNA technology has played as a countermeasure to emerging health threats.
Some outside experts criticized the administration's decision, including Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of Brown University's School of Public Health, who previously served as President Biden's COVID-19 response coordinator. He characterized the move as a risk to the American people's lives and health, emphasizing that bird flu is a known threat, and the virus's evolution could potentially lead to a pandemic. Fellow infectious disease expert Michael Osterholm from the University of Minnesota concurred, stating that the decision would leave the country less prepared for the next influenza pandemic.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), H5N1 has spread among over 1,000 dairy herds and more than 173 million poultry in the U.S., causing 70 human cases since it was first detected. While the virus has had a high death rate in other countries, it has not shown any signs of easy spread among people in the U.S. However, public health experts are concerned that continued virus transmission increases the risk of it mutating into a form that can spread from person to person, leading to potential pandemic conditions.
- The government's decision to halt a contract with Moderna over safety concerns could potentially impact the advancement of health-and-wellness in the realm of pandemic preparedness, given the shift towards technologies with a better-established safety profile.
2.ми Barbara Fischer, a medical-conditions specialist from the University of Wisconsin, voiced her concerns regarding the government's decision, stating that it could negatively impact news coverage of the ongoing avian flu threat and hindrance in science's efforts to develop effective vaccines.
- Though Moderna recently reported positive interim results from a clinical trial for an H5N1 mRNA vaccine, the termination of grants and contracts has instigated uncertainty in the company's future endeavors, potentially impeding the development of vaccines that could combat various medical-conditions and contribute to the betterment of healthcare.
