The Trump administration’s $500 million grant for a universal flu vaccine has raised eyebrows among vaccine and pandemic preparedness experts. The project, led by scientists Jeffery Taubenberger and Matthew Memoli at the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, uses technology largely abandoned in the 1970s. Critics argue that focusing vast resources on a single vaccine candidate is risky and that the approach is not innovative.
Expert Concerns
“It’s like putting all your money on one horse at the Kentucky Derby,” said William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University professor. Experts point out that over 200 flu vaccines are under development, many using newer technologies and some at more advanced stages of human testing.
Outdated Technology
The Taubenberger-Memoli vaccine uses a method from the 1940s, inactivating influenza viruses with a carcinogenic chemical called beta-propiolactone. This approach was standard until the 1970s but was modified due to side effects like high fevers and seizures in children. While the initial safety trial showed no major side effects, the limited published data raises concerns about the project’s readiness for such significant funding.
Controversy and Transparency
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shifted the funds from a pandemic preparedness fund, raising questions about conflicts of interest. HHS claimed the initiative represents “a decisive shift toward transparency, effectiveness, and comprehensive preparedness,” but experts question the decision-making process behind the grant.
Alternative Approaches
Other researchers are developing universal flu vaccines using newer technologies like artificial intelligence and computer modeling. Ted Ross from the Cleveland Clinic is part of an NIAID-funded consortium working on such approaches. “I’m happy to see them investing in respiratory vaccines, but I don’t think this is the only approach,” Ross said, highlighting the existence of multiple promising vaccine developments.
Implications for Future Research
The funding decision has also raised concerns about the impact on other vaccine research. Paul Friedrichs, a retired Air Force general, noted that “giving $500 million upfront with very little data to support it is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.” The allocation of funds from Project NextGen, a program focused on covid and other viral vaccines, has also sparked worries about de-emphasizing covid research.
