But current Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is skeptical of mRNA technology, used to develop most COVID-19 vaccines. In an email to Civil Eats, HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon said the agency’s decision reflects broader concerns about the use of mRNA platforms and referred to “mounting evidence” of side effects associated with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, such as heart issues in young men.

“After a rigorous review, we concluded that continued investment in Moderna’s H5N1 mRNA vaccine was not scientifically or ethically justifiable,” he said in an emailed statement. “This is not simply about efficacy—it’s about safety, integrity, and trust. The reality is that mRNA technology remains under-tested, and we are not going to spend taxpayer dollars repeating the mistakes of the last administration, which concealed legitimate safety concerns from the public.”

While the COVID-19 vaccines were rolled out quickly, researchers had been developing mRNA technology for vaccines for about 20 years prior. The vaccines are associated with a significant increase in risk of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), especially in young men, but it’s such a rare condition that the actual occurrence is still extremely rare. Research also shows COVID-19 itself is more likely to cause the same condition.

In the meantime, Moderna said it “will explore alternatives for late-stage development and manufacturing” of the vaccines.

At the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in February, Secretary Brooke Rollins released a five-point strategy to address bird flu on farms, much of which was focused on bringing down egg prices and compensating farmers for dead birds. In March, she said more than 130 facilities had completed “biosecurity assessments” through the USDA and that funding was being made available to develop a chicken vaccine. However, in other statements, she walked back language on vaccinating livestock, which is a controversial trade practice. (Link to this post.)