HHS Cancels Nearly $2 Billion in Moderna Pandemic Vaccine Funding
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has canceled a nearly $600 million contract with Moderna for developing flu pandemic vaccines, including for H5N1 bird flu, which is seen as a setback for pandemic preparedness despite Moderna's mRNA platform being uniquely fast in vaccine production. The cancellation reflects political and strategic concerns about the vaccine platform.