In a stunning move that has sent shockwaves through the pharmaceutical industry, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has issued a 90-day stop-work order on a $453 million COVID-19 vaccine trial, halting a project that was set to involve 10,000 participants. The decision, announced on February 21, comes as Kennedy vows to prioritize safety and fiscal responsibility in government-funded biomedical research. The trial, led by biotech company Vaxart, aimed to develop an oral COVID-19 vaccine, but concerns over the safety and efficacy of such experimental technologies have prompted this unprecedented pause.

• Kennedy halts a $453 million COVID-19 vaccine trial, citing safety concerns and fiscal responsibility.

• The trial, funded by the Biden administration’s Project NextGen, was set to involve 10,000 participants.

• Vaxart’s oral vaccine uses an adenovirus vector, a technology linked to severe health risks in previous COVID vaccines.

• Kennedy’s decision marks a sharp departure from the Biden administration’s aggressive push for new vaccine technologies.

A pause for safety and accountability

Kennedy’s decision to halt the Vaxart trial is a direct challenge to the Biden administration’s $4.7 billion Project NextGen initiative, which seeks to develop novel vaccine delivery methods, including oral pills and nasal sprays. The initiative, launched in 2023, is the successor to Operation Warp Speed, the Trump-era program that fast-tracked COVID-19 vaccines with minimal safety oversight.

“While it is crucial that the Department [of] Health and Human Services (HHS) support pandemic preparedness, four years of the Biden administration’s failed oversight have made it necessary to review agreements for vaccine production, including Vaxart’s,” Kennedy told Fox News Digital.

The Vaxart trial, funded by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), was designed to compare the efficacy of its oral vaccine to existing mRNA vaccines. However, the trial bypassed a placebo-controlled assessment, raising red flags about the integrity of the data and the potential risks to participants.

The dangers of adenovirus-based vaccines

Vaxart’s oral vaccine, VXA-CoV2-1, uses an adenovirus vector to deliver genetic material that instructs cells to produce the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. While the company claims its pill can survive the acidic environment of the stomach and target epithelial cells in the small intestine, critics argue that adenovirus-based vaccines have a troubling track record.

“Two adenovirus-based COVID vaccines have already been pulled from the market because they were remarkably unsafe, yet passed initial — and clearly insufficient — safety standards,” said Karl Jablonowski, Senior Research Scientist at Children’s Health Defense (CHD).

Indeed, Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) and AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccines, both of which used adenovirus vectors, were linked to severe blood clotting disorders and other life-threatening side effects. The J&J vaccine was paused in April 2021 after reports of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), while AstraZeneca’s vaccine was removed from the market in May 2024 following similar safety concerns.

A history of profit over people

The Vaxart trial is just one example of the pharmaceutical industry’s relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of public health. Jablonowski pointed out that vaccine makers have already reaped billions in taxpayer dollars, with little regard for the safety and well-being of the American people.

“The U.S. taxpayers have already paid for our pandemic. Big Pharma has made out like bandits. They are using the Biden administration’s $4.7 billion Project NextGen initiative funds to expand their patent portfolio — for the betterment of profit,” Jablonowski said.

Vaxart’s CEO, Steven Lo, celebrated the BARDA funding in a press release, calling the oral vaccine a “transformational, next-generation approach to global vaccination.” However, critics argue that such technologies are untested and potentially dangerous, with oral vaccines historically failing to provide robust or lasting immunity.

Kennedy’s decision to pause the Vaxart trial marks a turning point in the fight for transparency and accountability in government-funded medical research. As HHS secretary, Kennedy has pledged to investigate the safety of vaccines and ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.

“I look forward to working with Vaxart and medical experts to ensure this work produces safe, effective, and fiscal-minded vaccine technology,” Kennedy said.

The 90-day pause will allow HHS to review the data and determine whether the trial should proceed. In the meantime, Vaxart can continue billing the federal government for costs related to monitoring participants from earlier phases of the trial.

A stand against medical tyranny

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s bold decision to halt the Vaxart trial is a beacon of hope for those who have long criticized the pharmaceutical industry’s unchecked power and the government’s complicity in pushing unsafe medical products. By prioritizing safety over profit and accountability over expediency, Kennedy is challenging the status quo and standing up for the millions of Americans who have suffered the consequences of rushed and poorly tested vaccines.

In a world where corporate greed often trumps public health, Kennedy’s actions are a reminder that the fight for medical freedom is far from over. Like a lighthouse cutting through a storm, his leadership offers a guiding light for those navigating the treacherous waters of modern medicine. The question now is whether others will follow his lead — or continue to bow to the pressures of profit and power.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

Pubmed.gov

Pubmed.gov