RFK Jr. Just Grounded Our Bird Flu Defense?!

Has RFK Jr. Just Crippled Our Best Defense Against Bird Flu?

Imagine holding the key to victory in a future health crisis, only to discard it. This is precisely what appears to have transpired with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s recent actions, raising serious concerns within the scientific community and beyond.

Last week, Kennedy Jr. effectively terminated a **$766 million government contract** aimed at developing a cutting-edge bird flu vaccine. This contract, awarded to Moderna, the biotech firm renowned for its groundbreaking COVID-19 vaccine, was intended to bolster our preparedness for future public health emergencies. The goal was to leverage Moderna's mRNA technology to create a rapidly deployable vaccine platform against various influenza strains, including the highly concerning H5N1 bird flu.

The Looming Threat of Bird Flu

While the spread of bird flu in poultry farms is alarming, the real threat lies in the potential for the virus to mutate, jump to humans, and trigger widespread human-to-human transmission. Historically, such outbreaks have exhibited frighteningly high mortality rates, reaching as high as **50 percent** – a stark contrast to the COVID-19 mortality rate, which, despite claiming over 7 million lives globally, was significantly lower.

The swift development and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines, including Moderna's mRNA vaccine, played a pivotal role in mitigating the pandemic's devastating impact. The mRNA technology's ability to facilitate rapid vaccine production earned two scientists the Nobel Prize in Medicine. Given Moderna's promising early results with the bird flu vaccine, it was a logical choice for the government contract.

Controversy and Concerns

However, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), now under Kennedy's leadership, cited concerns about **"safety, integrity, and trust"** regarding mRNA technology, deeming it **"under-tested."** This rationale has been met with strong opposition from leading scientists, who emphasize the extensive clinical trials and rigorous monitoring that mRNA COVID vaccines have undergone.

Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health and former White House COVID-19 coordinator, estimates that approximately **1 billion people** have received at least one dose of an mRNA vaccine, with only rare reports of serious side effects. He emphatically labeled the "under-testing" argument as **"absurd."**

Other experts echo this sentiment:

• Dr. Adam Lauring, chief of infectious diseases at the University of Michigan, stated that these vaccines have been studied more intensively than almost any other vaccine in the past five years.
• Dr. Adam Ratner, a pediatric infectious diseases physician, described the mRNA COVID vaccines as having an **"excellent safety record."**

Dr. Ratner further lamented Kennedy's decision as an **"unforced error of potentially epic proportions,"** questioning why a promising treatment for bird flu and other infectious diseases would be abandoned.

A Shifting Landscape for COVID Boosters

Adding to the controversy, Kennedy also announced a significant change in the official recommendations for COVID booster shots. In a social media video, he stated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would no longer recommend boosters for healthy children and non-elderly adults, including pregnant women.

While the debate surrounding boosters for children is ongoing, the decision to remove the recommendation for pregnant women has sparked considerable backlash. Studies have consistently linked COVID-19 during pregnancy to increased risks of pre-term births, preeclampsia, and other complications. Vaccination remains the most effective way to protect both pregnant mothers and their vulnerable newborns.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued a strong statement in response, raising concerns about the decision-making process and the scientific basis for the change. The lack of transparency and the departure from the established CDC guidelines have further fueled anxieties.

A Process Disrupted

Normally, the CDC follows a well-defined process for issuing vaccine guidelines, involving data collection, analysis by government scientists, and deliberation by an advisory committee of external experts. The CDC director then makes a recommendation, which requires approval from the HHS secretary. However, this standard procedure was seemingly bypassed in this instance.

Adding to the confusion, the CDC staff reportedly learned about the decision through Kennedy's social media video, which featured directors from other health agencies but no representatives from the CDC. The subsequent release of conflicting information and a one-page "directive" lacking official HHS letterhead has only amplified the uncertainty.

A Confused Mess

The ambiguous messaging and unprofessional presentation have raised serious questions about the integrity and reliability of federal health recommendations. Experts worry that the revised COVID booster guidance could restrict access to vaccines for those who need or want them.

Furthermore, the altered recommendations may impact insurance coverage and influence public attitudes towards vaccination. Physicians, who rely on CDC guidelines for their recommendations, may find it increasingly difficult to navigate the conflicting information and advise their patients effectively.

Undermining Trust and Preparedness

In essence, Kennedy's actions are introducing more uncertainty into everyday medicine while undermining the CDC's institutional credibility. His decisions may also be legally vulnerable due to potential violations of administrative law prohibiting arbitrary or capricious actions.

The long-term consequences of these actions are far-reaching. Vaccine manufacturers may reconsider their commitment to the U.S. market, potentially shifting research and production overseas. This could leave Americans waiting longer for critical vaccines in future pandemics, jeopardizing lives and national security.

These recent events serve as a sobering reminder of the importance of evidence-based decision-making and transparent communication in public health. Undermining scientific consensus and disrupting established processes can have devastating consequences, leaving us vulnerable to emerging health threats.

Source: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/rkf-jr-kennedy-hhs-may-have-just-ruined-our-best-weapon-against-bird-flu-moderna-mrna-covid-boosters-cdc