Health Department Cancels More Than $700 Million in Funding for Moderna’s Bird Flu Vaccine

Keeping the money in place ‘was not scientifically or ethically justifiable,’ a spokesperson for the department said.

A sign marks the headquarters of vaccine maker Moderna in Cambridge, Mass., on April 28, 2022. Brian Snyder/Reuters

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has canceled funding for Moderna’s vaccine against avian influenza, also known as the bird flu, the department confirmed on May 29.

“After a rigorous review, we concluded that continued investment in Moderna’s H5N1 mRNA vaccine was not scientifically or ethically justifiable,” HHS communications director Andrew Nixon told The Epoch Times via email.