Trump Abrogates Agreement for Moderna's $766 Million Bird Flu V accination Program
In a move that has sparked concerns among health experts, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has terminated its contract and funding support for Moderna's bird flu vaccine program. The decision, made under the leadership of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., marks a significant retreat from pandemic preparedness efforts targeting avian influenza.
The termination comes despite promising early results from Moderna's vaccine, which had completed Phase I/II trials with 300 healthy adults showing robust immune responses and a strong safety profile. The U.S. government had initially awarded Moderna $176 million in 2024 to accelerate the vaccine's development.
The H5N1 avian influenza strain, responsible for the bird flu virus, has already spread to other wildlife, cows, and humans, resulting in over 148 million birds being culled worldwide. The virus has a case fatality rate of approximately 50%, according to the World Health Organization.
Moderna had shown encouraging immunogenicity data from trials involving 1,500 volunteers covering multiple avian flu strains. However, the funding withdrawal has halted late-stage development and the government's right to purchase pre-pandemic vaccines from Moderna.
Meanwhile, Moderna is moving forward with an mRNA-based seasonal influenza vaccine. This vaccine recently met its primary endpoint in a large Phase 3 trial for people 50 years and older, outperforming existing vaccines. Moderna plans to seek FDA approval for this seasonal flu vaccine as early as the 2026-2027 flu season and possibly pursue a combined COVID-19 and influenza vaccine.
The termination of the contract with Moderna for the bird flu vaccine development has raised concerns about the U.S.'s commitment to pandemic preparedness, particularly given the ongoing threat of the H5N1 strain. Some experts view this move as a dangerous retreat, as the bird flu virus continues to pose a significant risk.
It is important to note that this article does not delve into the reasons for HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s concerns over the safety of mRNA vaccines, nor does it discuss the ending of vaccine recommendations for children and pregnant women by the CDC. Additionally, Moderna's withdrawal of its application for approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a hybrid covid-flu vaccine was not mentioned in this article.
Sources: [1] Moderna's mRNA-based seasonal flu vaccine outperforms existing vaccines in large Phase 3 trial. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.modernatx.com/news/modernas-mrna-based-seasonal-flu-vaccine-outperforms-existing-vaccines-in-large-phase-3-trial
[2] Moderna's bird flu vaccine development halted; HHS terminates $766M contract and support. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.fiercebiotech.com/vaccines/modernas-bird-flu-vaccine-development-halted-hhs-terminates-766m-contract-and-support
[3] HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s role in the termination of Moderna's bird flu vaccine contract. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/01/hhs-secretary-robert-f-kennedy-moderna-bird-flu-vaccine-0003717
[4] The impact of the termination of Moderna's bird flu vaccine contract on pandemic preparedness. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/johns-hopkins-center-for-health-security/our-work/articles/the-impact-of-the-termination-of-modernas-bird-flu-vaccine-contract-on-pandemic-preparedness.html
- The termination of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) contract with Moderna for the bird flu vaccine program has sparked concerns among health experts, as it marks a significant retreat from pandemic preparedness efforts targeting avian influenza.
- Moderna's bird flu vaccine had shown promising results in earlier trials with 300 healthy adults, demonstrating robust immune responses and a strong safety profile.
- The H5N1 avian influenza strain, responsible for the bird flu virus, has already spread to other wildlife, cows, and humans, resulting in over 148 million birds being culled worldwide.
- In the future, Moderna is looking to seek FDA approval for its mRNA-based seasonal influenza vaccine, which outperformed existing vaccines in a large Phase 3 trial for people 50 years and older.
- Meanwhile, the decision to terminate the contract with Moderna for the bird flu vaccine development has raised questions about the U.S.'s commitment to pandemic preparedness, given the ongoing threat of the H5N1 strain.
- This move towards ending the government's support for Moderna's bird flu vaccine program also highlights the intersection between science, technology, business, politics, finance, health, and general-news, as it impacts not only the health-and-wellness sector but also the broader community.
