1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

The Trump administration's decision to cancel the $766 million contract with Moderna to develop an mRNA vaccine for the H5N1 bird flu virus is deeply concerning. Experts warn that this move jeopardizes our nation's preparedness for the next influenza pandemic. The H5N1 virus has already infected over 1,000 dairy herds, more than 173 million poultry, and caused human cases, signaling its potential to mutate and spread from person to person. Canceling this vital vaccine development program puts American lives at risk. While the administration cites safety concerns with mRNA technology, the data from Moderna's Phase 1/2 study involving 300 adults showed a robust immune response and favorable safety profile. Infectious disease experts like Dr. Ashish Jha and Michael Osterholm strongly criticize this decision, stating it leaves us dangerously ill-equipped to respond to a potential bird flu pandemic. Influenza pandemics have caused devastating loss of life throughout history. With the H5N1 virus actively circulating and evolving, we cannot afford to neglect precautionary measures. Developing effective vaccines is crucial to safeguarding public health and mitigating the catastrophic consequences of a pandemic. The administration must reconsider this reckless decision and prioritize evidence-based pandemic preparedness over unfounded rhetoric against proven technologies like mRNA vaccines.