The following information is from Children’s Health Defense.

The Trump administration canceled two contracts totaling $766 million with Moderna for the development of its mRNA-1018 vaccine for the H5N1 strain of bird flu. The Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed that the contracts were ended due to safety and efficacy concerns identified during clinical trials.

HHS communications director Andrew Nixon explained the decision in a formal statement.

“After a rigorous review, we concluded that continued investment in Moderna’s H5N1 mRNA vaccine was not scientifically or ethically justifiable. This is not simply about efficacy — it’s about safety, integrity and trust.”

Epidemiologist Nicolas Hulscher welcomed the move as a major shift.

“This is a very positive development. It’s a major policy shift away from dangerous mRNA injection programs.”

Moderna had received $176 million from HHS last year for development, and another $590 million in January 2025. The company claimed trial results were “positive,” even as its government contracts were canceled.

Internal medicine physician Dr. Clayton Baker said the cancellation was overdue and supported ending use of the mRNA platform entirely.

“The mRNA gene therapy platform, as demonstrated by the multiple toxicities of the COVID-19 shots, is fundamentally unsafe and should be removed from use altogether.”

Moderna also recently withdrew its FDA application for a combined mRNA flu and COVID-19 vaccine. The article states this came after increased regulatory scrutiny following Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appointment as HHS secretary.

Dr. Meryl Nass, founder of Door to Freedom, said there was no medical justification for developing a new bird flu vaccine—particularly one based on mRNA. She noted that traditional bird flu vaccines already exist and billions have been spent on past pandemic vaccine efforts.

“There is absolutely no reason why the United States needs another bird flu vaccine, and there is even less reason to develop an mRNA vaccine because the platform itself is dangerous.”

So far, around 70 people have been infected with H5N1 worldwide in the past year—mostly farm workers. No new cases have been reported in over three months, and there is no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission.

Dr. Richard Bartlett, former adviser to the Texas Dept. of Health and Human Services, dismissed the panic as media-driven.

“What does this say about the severity of the illness in humans? It says that the illness is either mild or entirely asymptomatic and that there’s no need for a vaccine for an asymptomatic condition.”

Baker also raised concerns about gain-of-function research being conducted at facilities including the Kawaoka lab at the University of Wisconsin and the Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory in Georgia.

“Gain-of-function research produces human pathogens. The process is driven by fear in the media, and then proprietary vaccines are presented as the solution. It needs to end.”

President Trump recently issued an executive order placing a 120-day pause on all gain-of-function research and suspending related funding overseas. Gain-of-function research increases the transmissibility of viruses and is often used in vaccine development.

Recently, there have been growing calls among scientists for a moratorium or outright ban on mRNA vaccines, including a petition currently pending before the FDA.

For more information, read the full article here.