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Moderna's CEO Blasts HHS's Covid Vaccine Policy Changes

9/10/2025

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Summary

Story summary

At the WIRED Health summit, Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel criticized HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s recent Covid-19 vaccine policy changes as a “step backward.”
The FDA now limits Covid vaccine eligibility to high-risk individuals, making it harder for families to protect vulnerable members.
Kennedy, opposing vaccines, ended a $590 million contract with Moderna for a bird flu vaccine.
He stated mRNA vaccines are ineffective against respiratory infections, while HHS reallocates funding to whole-virus vaccines.
Despite these challenges, Moderna gained expanded approval for its RSV vaccine and is advancing mRNA cancer therapies.

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Story summary

At the WIRED Health summit, Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel criticized HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s recent Covid-19 vaccine policy changes as a “step backward.”
The FDA now limits Covid vaccine eligibility to high-risk individuals, making it harder for families to protect vulnerable members.
Kennedy, opposing vaccines, ended a $590 million contract with Moderna for a bird flu vaccine.
He stated mRNA vaccines are ineffective against respiratory infections, while HHS reallocates funding to whole-virus vaccines.
Despite these challenges, Moderna gained expanded approval for its RSV vaccine and is advancing mRNA cancer therapies.