It’s Time for a Flu Vaccine—for Birds
WiredDec 02, 2022
Report: US Government to Fund Moderna's Bird Flu Vaccine Trial
Image copyright: Hugh R Hastings/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
The US government is nearing a deal to fund a late-stage trial of Moderna’s mRNA bird flu vaccine, according to the Financial Times. Federal funding for the shots could come as soon as next month.
Citing anonymous sources close to the discussions, FT reported Thursday that Moderna is poised to receive tens of millions of dollars from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
As concerns mount about a potential bird flu epidemic, the government is working with Moderna to develop new vaccines to keep farms and animals safe. mRNA technology allowed for the quick rollout of COVID vaccines that saved thousands of lives, and similar jabs could stop the spread of H5N1 before it gets out of hand. The bird flu public health threat remains low — for now — and developing new vaccines could prevent another pandemic.
Establishment-critical narrative
As the public grows tired of constant inoculations, the federal government is back to bankrolling big pharma to help boost profits. While the spike in bird flu cases is somewhat concerning, it seems like the establishment is trying to overstate the issue to justify millions in funding for companies like Moderna and Pfizer. These companies made off like bandits during COVID before seeing their stock prices drop. However, the feds wouldn't allow the lull to continue — pushing for new ways to boost big pharma’s market value.