Investigation: Vaccine Program Has $5B Funds, But Little Guidance
By Adam Andrzejewski
Investigation by Adam Andrzejewski originally posted by RealClearInvestigations.com and RealClearWire.com
The Biden administration is giving $5 billion to a new vaccine grant program to produce updated Covid vaccines, but vaccine manufacturers aren’t sure how to navigate the bureaucratic requirements and regulatory uncertainty, according to The New York Times.
The grant program, known as Project NexGen, is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. HHS says the program, “will accelerate and streamline the rapid development of the next generation of vaccines and treatments through public-private collaborations.” Officials hope the new vaccines will more effectively protect against newer Covid variants.
Despite the availability of funds, private manufacturers are frustrated by the program’s lack of information and guidance.
The Times reported that vaccine manufactures are unsure whether they qualify for the funding. It’s also unclear whether the clinical trials the new program is funding will be sufficient to gain regulatory approval. One virologist said of the program, “There’s not the money, there’s not the infrastructure, there’s not the support,” according to the Times.
The Biden administration is hopeful the new vaccines will be available in 2024, but most scientists have said development of a updated vaccines will take at least several years.
The better solution to spur innovation is to cut red tape, and streamline the confusing approval processes for vaccines, like was done under Operation Warp Speed in 2020. Many experts told the Times that the approval processes need to be reformed first to see breakthroughs in vaccine development.
This is yet another example of how the thoughtless implementation of a program will yield poor results, regardless of how much money is thrown at the problem. Until federal regulators simplify the confusing regulatory landscape, no amount of tax dollars will fix it.
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This article was originally published by RealClearInvestigations and made available via RealClearWire.
