US bets $500 million on universal vaccines, WSJ reports

According to the Wall Street Journal, the United States is putting $500 million into a vaccine initiative that aims to create “universal” vaccines capable of protecting against multiple virus strains simultaneously. The project involves developing vaccines from chemically inactivated whole viruses, a method similar to how flu vaccines were produced in the past. This effort, known as ‘Generation Gold Standard’ by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), marks a shift in focus from COVID-19 research to the exploration of various viruses. In addition to a universal flu vaccine, the project also encompasses research on universal coronavirus vaccines, as per a statement from HHS to the WSJ. The U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is reportedly proposing that all new vaccines undergo placebo testing, as reported by The Washington Post. Kennedy, a former environmental attorney and vocal vaccine skeptic, founded the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense. The group has initiated legal actions in state and federal courts challenging common vaccinations like the measles vaccine. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has not yet responded to Reuters’ request for comments.