Vaccine contracts terminated by the U.S., raising concerns over mRNA vaccine safety
The US Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has made a surprising move by terminating 22 federal contracts for mRNA-based vaccine projects. This decision, announced earlier this week, has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the country's ability to respond effectively to future pandemics or public health emergencies.
According to Kennedy, the data show that these vaccines, which include those developed by Moderna and others, fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has since stopped funding these mRNA vaccine projects, except for a few contracts already near completion to preserve previous taxpayer investments.
The affected projects are worth nearly $500 million, and the changes also affect numerous other programs, including the rejection or cancellation of multiple pre-award solicitations from pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Sanofi. The move has significant implications, with experts warning that this decision severely weakens the United States' ability to rapidly develop and deploy vaccines during future crises.
Former BARDA director Rick Bright described the decision as creating "self-inflicted vulnerability" and predicted severe consequences, including lost lives, due to delayed vaccine availability compared to peer countries. The termination of these contracts represents a major shift in the federal pandemic preparedness strategy, potentially undermining critical countermeasures as global health risks continue to increase.
It is important to note that the new panel appointed by Kennedy to advise the government on vaccines has voted to ban a longstanding vaccine preservative. However, vaccine experts dispute Kennedy's claims about the vaccines' effectiveness, and the vaccine preservative targeted by the new panel has a strong safety record.
mRNA vaccines, which were accelerated into widespread use through President Trump's Operation Warp Speed, work differently from traditional vaccines. Instead of introducing a weakened or inactivated pathogen, mRNA shots deliver genetic instructions into the host's cells to produce a harmless decoy of the pathogen.
The termination of these vaccine development investments has raised questions about Kennedy's motives, given his history of sowing misinformation around immunization. Despite these concerns, the Health and Human Services (HHS) department has reiterated its support for safe, effective vaccines for every American who wants them.
References:
- NPR
- The Washington Post
- The New York Times
- The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has halted funding for mRNA vaccine projects, including those from Moderna, due to concerns about their effectiveness in protecting against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu.
- The termination of these vaccine development contracts, worth nearly $500 million, has raised concerns about the impact on health-and-wellness and medical-conditions, as experts warn that this decision may weaken the United States' ability to respond effectively to future pandemics or public health emergencies.
