Controversy Over Trump's $500 Million Investment in Outdated Vaccine Technology

The Trump administration's recent decision to allocate $500 million for the development of a broadly protective influenza vaccine has raised eyebrows among experts in vaccine science and pandemic preparedness. The initiative, led by two scientists appointed to senior roles at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), involves an approach to flu vaccination that relies on old technology largely abandoned in the 1970s, rather than utilizing the latest advancements in vaccine development.

The funding, transferred from a pandemic preparedness fund, has sparked criticism due to its unconventional focus. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. allocated the funds to a project targeting a universal flu vaccine, but many experts see the choice of technology as outdated. The approach involves inactivating influenza viruses using a chemical called beta-propiolactone, a method used in previous decades but no longer considered cutting-edge.

While some officials have supported the effort, warning of the importance of diversifying vaccine development efforts, critics argue that concentrating such a significant amount of resources on a single candidate risks limited innovation. William Schaffner, a prominent infectious disease expert, compared it to betting all funds on one horse in a race, emphasizing that science typically benefits from multiple parallel approaches.

The vaccine being developed by NIH scientists Jeffery Taubenberger and Matthew Memoli is based on methods established in the mid-20th century, which contrasts with current efforts utilizing newer technologies like mRNA platforms. The vaccine utilizes whole-virus inactivation, a process that has historically been associated with higher adverse effects, although initial small safety trials have not reported major side effects.

Critics, including former officials like Rick Bright and Paul Friedrichs, question the rationale behind returning to a largely outdated technology and express concern over the ethics and transparency of the funding process. They also highlight that much more advanced flu vaccines are already in development, employing cutting-edge techniques capable of providing broader and more effective protection against influenza strains.

The allocation of funds appears to be a shift from existing COVID-19 and other viral vaccine research at Project NextGen, a program aimed at advancing pandemic preparedness. Experts worry that deprioritizing newer, potentially more effective COVID vaccines and broad-spectrum influenza vaccines could have long-term consequences.

In summary, while the effort to develop a universal flu vaccine is commendable, many experts believe that the use of obsolete technology and the manner of funding raise critical questions about the strategic direction of vaccine research under the current administration.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-trump-team-million-vaccine-technology.html