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COVID-19

Trump Administration's Shift on mRNA Vaccines: Cancellation of Research Contracts

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Trump administration was instrumental in promoting and developing mRNA vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic, but in a sharp pivot, the federal government has cancelled $500 million worth of research development contracts. The mRNA vaccines were initially hailed as a "medical miracle" by Trump and his health secretary, Azar, who credited the technology with slowing the pandemic and saving tens of millions of lives. However, the Biden administration is effectively ending U.S.-backed hopes for the vaccine technology to prevent future pandemics, treat cancer, or prevent flu infections.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Trump administration invested heavily in the development of mRNA vaccines, with President Trump hailing them as a "medical miracle" and a key factor in preventing tens of millions of deaths.
  • Health Secretary Azar and other top officials praised the mRNA vaccines, stating they were safe and extraordinarily effective, and that they had the potential to prevent future pandemics and treat cancer.
  • The mRNA vaccines were developed at record speed, with Perna crediting the technology for getting shots in arms mere months after the pandemic started.
  • Trump and his administration often took credit for the development and rollout of the mRNA vaccines, with Trump stating that he had pushed manufacturers harder than they had ever been pushed before.
  • The Biden administration has now cancelled $500 million worth of research development contracts, effectively ending U.S.-backed hopes for the vaccine technology.
  • The mRNA technology has the potential to prevent future pandemics, treat cancer, and prevent flu infections, but this potential has been effectively ended by the cancellation of research contracts.

Statistics:

  • $500 million: The value of the research development contracts cancelled by the Biden administration.
  • 200,000: The number of Americans killed by COVID-19 in just over six months.
  • 3,000: The daily COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. before the rollout of mRNA vaccines.
  • 1,500: The daily COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. after the rollout of mRNA vaccines.
  • 70-80%: The percentage of Americans who intended to get the mRNA vaccine.

Sources:

  • (AP) — President hailed as a “medical miracle” the mRNA vaccines developed to combat the deadly in 2020.
  • AP — Health Secretary Azar said on Dec. 16, 2020, that the mRNA vaccine is safe and extraordinarily effective.
  • NPR, May 9, 2023: “It takes somewhere between five and 10 years to put a vaccine on the street. Look what we did. Now, that’s because of the great work of the scientists who had done the research on mRNA vaccines and others because of industry working on this, they just didn’t wake up one day and start working on it,” Perna said during a podcast interview.
  • AP, Dec. 19, 2021: "Take credit because we saved tens of millions of lives. Take credit. Don’t let them take that away from you,” Trump said during a live interview with former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly.

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