The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced plans to cancel or scale back dozens of grants focused on studying vaccine hesitancy and encouraging community uptake of vaccines. The move comes as the Trump administration faces criticism over its handling of a recent measles outbreak in the US.
According to an internal email obtained by The Washington Post, the NIH policy shift was made in response to concerns that the institute’s research priorities may be conflicting with the administration’s stance on vaccine skepticism. The grants in question were awarded to study why people are hesitant to get vaccinated and explore ways to improve vaccine interest and commitment.
The NIH will reportedly leave some grantees room to maintain funding if they scale back certain vaccine-related research. However, the institute has stated that all awards must be terminated immediately by Monday.
The decision has sparked alarm among public health advocates, who have long emphasized the importance of scientific evidence-based research on vaccine effectiveness and hesitancy. The move also comes as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) prepares to launch a study exploring a potential link between autism and vaccines, despite widespread consensus that such a link does not exist.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy is facing scrutiny over his handling of the measles outbreak, which has caused at least 222 cases across 21 jurisdictions in the US. The majority of cases are among those who are unvaccinated or have undetermined vaccine status.
Kennedy’s response to the crisis has been criticized for being tone-deaf and lacking urgency. His administration’s attempts to downplay the outbreak have also raised concerns about the government’s commitment to public health.
Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nih-grant-vaccine-hesitancy-rfk-b2712577.html