National Institutes of Health leader Jay Bhattacharya has criticized the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for canceling millions of dollars in mRNA contracts due to public distrust of the technology. Bhattacharya, who spoke on the podcast “War Room” and in an opinion piece in The Washington Post, argued that the HHS chose to cancel contracts because the American public does not trust the technology. He cited vaccine mandates and other public health safety measures issued under the Biden administration as the main reason for public distrust. Bhattacharya argued that the platform failed to earn public trust, as it failed to earn credibility among the people it seeks to protect. He also received national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic for his criticism of lockdown measures and vaccine mandates.
The NIH director has provided a rationale for reducing vaccine contracts. Huong DN Member 019
