The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it will wind down messenger-RNA vaccine work at its Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, cancelling 22 contracts worth almost $500 million. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the decision follows a review concluding that mRNA shots do not offer reliable protection against upper-respiratory infections like COVID-19 and influenza, and that resources will shift toward broader, so-called safer vaccine platforms. The move halts late-stage development of Moderna’s H5N1 bird-flu vaccine and scraps or scales back pending solicitations involving Pfizer, Sanofi, CSL Seqirus, Gritstone, Emory University and others. HHS added that contracts nearing completion—such as a bird-flu programme at Arcturus—may continue, but no new mRNA projects will be initiated. Scientists and medical organisations swiftly criticised the policy. Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota called it “the most dangerous public-health decision I’ve seen in 50 years,” warning it undermines U.S. readiness for future pandemics and bioterror threats. The American Medical Association urged the administration to reconsider, noting mRNA technology’s role in vaccines credited with saving millions of lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers also cautioned that cutting federal support could slow work on experimental mRNA vaccines for cancer and other diseases and push biotech investment overseas. Moderna’s stock slipped roughly 3% after the announcement. The White House said President Donald Trump will review the change in a scheduled meeting with Secretary Kennedy and senior advisers.