The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is abruptly terminating at least 33 research grants focused on understanding vaccine hesitancy, evaluating strategies to encourage vaccine uptake, and studying mRNA vaccines. Nine additional grants may be modified or cut back.
Termination letters were sent to scientists who received these grants, informing them that their projects no longer align with NIH policies backed by President Donald Trump and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a noted vaccine skeptic.
Fourteen awards involve vaccines for diseases such as mpox, human papillomavirus, chickenpox, and COVID-19, including one hypothetical gonorrhea vaccine project that was included due to its focus on health care workers’ attitudes towards acceptance of a gonorrhea vaccine.
Some grants will not be terminated in their entirety but may have subprojects involving vaccine hesitancy canceled. One $548,002 project analyzing electronic health records and infant developmental screening data to study COVID-19 vaccine safety during breastfeeding was also terminated despite its focus on the vaccine’s safety.
Scientists are expressing concern over the NIH’s actions, with one researcher stating that ceasing research on vaccine uptake will exacerbate existing challenges rather than addressing them. Others have expressed shock and disappointment at the sudden termination of their grants.
Source: https://www.science.org/content/article/nih-ax-grants-vaccine-hesitancy