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The $176 million Moderna bird flu vaccine deal was announced on July 2, 2024, to support late-stage development of an investigational mRNA vaccine against H5 influenza. It did not result in a publicly available vaccine: Moderna said in May 2025 that HHS had notified it the late-stage award and federal right to purchase pre-pandemic vaccines would be terminated. HHS announced a wider wind-down of BARDA mRNA vaccine-development investments in August 2025.
What the $176 million award was for
Moderna announced the award on July 2, 2024. The funding came through the Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle consortium, funded by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Its stated purpose was late-stage development of an mRNA-based pre-pandemic vaccine against H5 influenza, with additional options for future public-health threats. Moderna’s July 2, 2024 announcement
The candidate was mRNA-1018, an investigational pandemic influenza vaccine program. Moderna had begun a Phase 1/2 study in 2023 involving healthy adults and candidates for H5 and H7 influenza. The company said in July 2024 that it expected results that year to inform Phase 3 plans; that was a projection at the time, not evidence that Phase 3 began or that a vaccine was approved.
How the deal changed
| Date | Development | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| July 2, 2024 | Moderna announced a $176 million BARDA-backed award for late-stage development of an investigational pre-pandemic H5 vaccine. Moderna | An announced development award, not an approved vaccine or a commitment that doses would be delivered to the public. |
| January 17, 2025 | Moderna announced a separate additional $590 million award to support late-stage development and expand clinical studies to as many as five other pandemic influenza subtypes. The company said positive preliminary Phase 1/2 data had led it to prepare to advance mRNA-1018 into Phase 3. Moderna | These were company-reported award and development plans at that date. |
| May 28, 2025 | Moderna said HHS had notified it that the late-stage award and the federal right to purchase pre-pandemic influenza vaccines would be terminated. Moderna also reported interim H5 Phase 1/2 findings from approximately 300 healthy adults. Moderna | The reported study findings were interim results, not proof of prevention of human infection, FDA approval, or public availability. |
| August 5, 2025 | HHS announced a coordinated wind-down of BARDA mRNA vaccine-development activities, including restructuring of collaborations involving Moderna and UTMB. HHS said the broader wind-down affected 22 projects worth nearly $500 million. HHS | The nearly $500 million figure described the wider set of projects, not the value of Moderna’s individual awards. |
Is there a bird flu vaccine for people?
The facts here do not establish an FDA-approved, consumer-available mRNA-1018 product. An investigational vaccine in Phase 1/2 research is not the same as a licensed vaccine: early clinical findings can inform further development, but do not by themselves demonstrate that a vaccine prevents illness in people or is ready for public use.
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The U.S. does maintain pandemic influenza preparedness resources outside this Moderna award. BARDA describes the National Pre-Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Stockpile as an emergency program that procures vaccines against strains with pandemic potential and maintains vaccine seeds and/or bulk antigens, including H5Nx. These are institutional preparedness materials, not retail doses for individuals. BARDA also describes a domestic cell-based manufacturing capacity goal of 150 million doses within six months; this is a target, not a quantity of vaccine already delivered or held as stock. The agency says it continues long-standing partnerships with GSK, Sanofi, and CSL Seqirus. BARDA’s stockpile and preparedness information
What other federal vaccine work was announced?
In May 2025, HHS and the National Institutes of Health announced Generation Gold Standard, a separate whole-virus research initiative using beta-propiolactone-inactivated virus. HHS said universal influenza vaccine clinical trials were scheduled to begin in 2026 and named 2029 as an FDA-approval target. Those dates are announced plans and a target, not completed trials or an approval. HHS’s Generation Gold Standard announcement
This initiative should not be confused with Moderna’s mRNA candidate or the BARDA stockpile. They differ in platform and status: Moderna’s program concerned an investigational mRNA candidate whose late-stage federal support was slated for termination; Generation Gold Standard was a separate research initiative with future trial plans; and the stockpile is an ongoing preparedness program involving vaccine seeds, antigens, procurement and manufacturing capacity.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the bird flu risk now?
CDC’s situation page dated March 6, 2026, said A(H5) bird flu was widespread among wild birds and causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows, with sporadic U.S. human cases among dairy and poultry workers. CDC characterized the current public-health risk as low and reported 71 U.S. human cases since February 2024. The agency said it was monitoring people with animal exposures and using flu surveillance systems. These figures and the risk characterization are specific to the CDC page on that date and can change; consult CDC’s current bird flu situation updates for later information.
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