Bird Flu Vaccine Funding Cuts: Critical Error

Written By Amanda Sicard

By Michael Bronfman for Metis, June 30, 2025

H5N1 Bird flu vaccines

We at Metis are very concerned about a dangerous misstep by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) when it recently terminated a $700 million contract with a major pharmaceutical company for their H5N1 mRNA vaccine. Michael Bronfman writes why this is a disturbing trend in the following post. His article contends that bird flu poses a significant, non-theoretical threat with a high mortality rate and increasing human spillover and that current vaccines are outdated. Bronfman champions mRNA technology for its speed and adaptability in vaccine development, directly countering the current administration's skepticism and warning that the funding cut will lead to preparedness gaps, economic fallout, and a loss of public trust due to misinformation. He also tells us why we urgently need to restore funding, enhance surveillance, expand stockpiles, combat misinformation, and implement "One Health" strategies to prevent a potentially catastrophic H5N1 pandemic.

At the end of May 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the termination of a roughly $700 million contract with Moderna, aimed at developing an mRNA vaccine for H5N1 bird flu. See: statnews.com+9usnews.com+9english.almayadeen.net+9economictimes.indiatimes.com+12vpm.org+12wprl.org+12.

This decision—from Health Secretary RFK Jr., a noted vaccine skeptic—marks a stark departure from past pandemic preparedness strategies. But why is this move so far-reaching—and so dangerous?

1. Bird Flu Isn't a Theoretical Threat

If H5N1 evolves into a transmissible strain, its impact could eclipse that of
COVID-19.

2. Vaccine Research Is Our First Line of Defense

A. Existing Vaccines Are Outdated

Three U.S.-licensed H5N1 vaccines (2007–2020) are available but target older strains and are held for stockpiling—not mass distribution. See: benzinga.com+14asm.org+14hms.harvard.edu+14. As Harvard experts warn, these old vaccines "do not match the current strains" and require urgent updating. See: hms.harvard.edu.

B. mRNA Offers Speed and Flexibility

C. Real-Time Preclinical Success

New vaccines—both traditional recombinant protein-based and mRNA—have demonstrated full protection in animal models, including mice, ferrets, and cattle. See:  pci.upenn.edu+1time.com+1.

Bottom line: mRNA is not theoretical—it's a demonstrated, powerful tool for pandemic preparedness.

3. Why Cutting the Funding Is Risky

A. Science Vs. Skepticism

Secretary Kennedy cited "safety concerns with mRNA vaccines," stating the Moderna H5N1 shots were "under‑tested". See dvm360.com+15pulmonologyadvisor.com+15arstechnica.com+15. Yet, Moderna's clinical data showed strong immune responses and good tolerability. See: time.com+2pulmonologyadvisor.com+2axios.com+2. Public health experts warn that this move prioritizes vaccine skepticism over solid science. See: reuters.com+2washingtonpost.com+2english.almayadeen.net+2

B. Preparedness Gaps

If H5N1 mutates and spreads easily, the U.S. could find itself without a viable, scalable vaccine. Traditional egg-based production is hampered by the virus's impact on poultry, and updating older vaccines could take months. See: washingtonpost.com+1statnews.com+1. The mRNA approach was designed to bridge that gap.

C. Economic and Social Fallout

Historical models, like the 1957 and 1918 flu, show pandemics impose massive economic costs—healthcare strain, GDP shrinkage up to 5 %, and millions of lost work days unmc.edu. A novel H5N1 pandemic could dwarf the 2020 financial collapse. Cutting vaccine funding is effectively playing with fire.

4. The Wildcard: Misinformation and Public Trust

A. Anti-Vaxx Influence

Secretary Kennedy, known for anti-vaccine stances, has:

Scaling back bird flu vaccine research undermines trust at a delicate moment for public health. It adds to the public's overall skepticism.

B. Implications for Public Confidence

When trusted authorities reduce financial investment in vaccines because of vague "integrity concerns," it fuels suspicion. This can cascade into lower uptake of other essential vaccines (influenza, measles, COVID-19 boosters), increasing vulnerability to both seasonal and pandemic respiratory diseases.

5. Why We Must Continue This Research

A. Vaccines = Prevention

Even if H5N1 doesn't become easily transmissible, vaccines play critical roles by:

  1. Protecting high-risk workers (poultry, livestock, lab personnel) with targeted early vaccination. See: asm.org.

  2. Curbing outbreaks in animals, thus reducing animal-to-human spillover through a "One Health" approach.

  3. Building public preparedness, offering science-based assurance before panic sets in.

B. Economic and Global Leadership

Delaying or stopping vaccine development risks:

  • Loss of global influence in response efforts,

  • Supply chain bottlenecks,

  • U.S. reliance on slower foreign-made vaccines.

Weaker preparedness invites more severe outbreaks and greater economic disruption.

C. Technical Innovation

Ongoing mRNA research against H5N1 improves:

  • Safety profiling,

  • Dose optimization,

  • Broad-spectrum vaccine development.

This translates into future readiness—not just for influenza but for unknown zoonotic threats.

6. The Road Ahead: Recommendations

Recommendation Rationale

Restore and protect funding Back Moderna's Phase 3 and other mRNA H5N1 trials—the world can only catch viruses early with swift vaccine deployment.

Scale genomic surveillance Track mutations across birds, mammals, and humans for early warning signs thesun.iethescottishsun.co.uk+5en.wikipedia.org+5asm.org+5thesun.ie+2asm.org+2time.com+2hms.harvard.edu

Expand stockpiles Update existing protein-based vaccines and purchase doses from CSL Seqirus, GSK, and others.

Combat misinformation Reinforce CDC advisory boards and science-based health communication to rebuild public trust.

Implement One Health strategies Combine farm biosecurity, animal vaccination, and human surveillance to halt cross-species spread.

7. Delay and Mixed Signals: Prevention Requires Commitment

These funding cust signal that vaccine readiness is considered optional. In public health, we don't get mulligans. The stakes are too high; scientifically and economically. The world has seen the devastating precedent of COVID-19; letting bird flu simmer unchecked is an even greater gamble.

If we delay now, we may be rewriting the script of the next global catastrophe. Investing in bird flu vaccines—especially with agile mRNA platforms—is not just wise. It's essential.

If you would like to discuss how this affects your organization and what we can do collectively, please get in touch with Metis Consulting Services.

Amanda Sicard
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