What's actually happening with U.S. vaccine policy?

The FDA just approved Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine, but only for people over 65 or with pre-existing conditions. At the same time, Moderna has pulled its application for a COVID-flu combo shot from FDA consideration. As the CDC debates whether universal COVID boosters should continue, the direction is clear: the regime is putting up roadblocks to vaccine makers.

The FDA has recommended that fall COVID vaccines target the LP.8.1 strain, which now dominates U.S. cases. But under new policy, only people aged 65+ and those 6 months and older with at least one high-risk condition are eligible for newly approved vaccines. For everyone else, any new COVID formula (like one based on LP.8.1) will require full randomized controlled trial data before approval, delaying access for many months.

Last year’s vaccines remain broadly authorized. So to avoid bottlenecks, the FDA’s advisory panel chose to stick with an unchanged formulation for now. This means some people will have timely access, even though it’s probably not a great match.

Earlier this month, the administration unveiled its $500-million bet on a “universal flu shot” project called Generation Gold Standard. It’s being developed entirely in-house at the NIH, using abandoned vaccine tech that dates back to the 1940s. Notably, the proposal comes with with no completed human trial data, and no public peer review. The project’s two lead scientists were just elevated to top NIH roles, and the money was swiftly redirected from pandemic preparedness funds during this year’s DOGE chaos.

It’s a total rejection of this decade’s trend toward the adoption of the mRNA platform for vaccine development. But it aligns perfectly with the well-documented anti-mRNA stances of RFK Jr. and FDA leads Vinay Prasad and Marty Makary.

Meanwhile, Novavax — a company producing a high-quality, protein-based vaccine shown to cause fewer side effects and produce longer-lasting immunity — is facing unique obstruction measures from the regime, with unprecedented demands in its approval process that may bankrupt the company. The FDA’s unexplained restrictions make little sense. Unless, of course, the regime is positioning its own alternative for market dominance. 
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Georgia woman kept on life support due to state abortion ban

Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old nurse, has been legally brain-dead since February. She’s being kept alive, according to the hospital overseeing her care, because ending life support would be illegal under state law.

Why it’s important: Smith was about nine weeks pregnant when she was hospitalized. She is now ~22 weeks pregnant, meaning her body has been artificially sustained for more than three months to support a nonviable pregnancy.

Smith’s family says they were told the hospital could not legally withdraw life support due to Georgia’s abortion law. The hospital's position stems from a chilling effect on doctors who worry they'll face prison time or lose their licenses for terminating a pregnancy, even indirectly. Estimates for Smith’s hospital care are in the ballpark of US $800,000. Her family has already begun fundraising.
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Shingles vaccine cuts stroke and heart attack risk

A new study of 1.2 million people in South Korea finds shingles vaccination cuts cardiovascular risk by up to 26%, especially in those under 60.

Why it's important: Shingles can trigger blood vessel inflammation and clotting. Preventing it could be a simple way to decrease the risk of major thrombotic events.

The protective effect peaked at 2–3 years post-vaccine and lasted up to eight. The study is the latest evidence that shingles vaccination has health benefits beyond preventing the deeply unpleasant infection. N.L. is now the only province to fund shingles vaccines for all residents over age 50. The findings reinforce evidence that viral infections can have lasting effects on the body, contributing to chronic illness in ways we’re only just beginning to map.
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Let's talk about the ostriches.

After confirming H5N1 in two birds the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) ordered the destruction of Universal Ostrich’s entire herd on Dec. 31, 2024. About ten percent of the farm’s ostriches (mostly young ones) died during the initial outbreak. The rest, the farm says, are healthy and should be spared.

Why it's important: The CFIA treats ostriches as “poultry,” triggering automatic depopulation in a bird flu outbreak. But the ostrich = poultry rule is debatable, as the birds aren’t raised for food. In captivity, they live up to 70 years.

The CFIA has defended its approach, saying: “Allowing a domestic poultry flock known to be exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza to remain alive… would increase the possibility of reassortment or mutation.” In contrast, over 1,000 U.S. cattle herds have had confirmed H5N1 outbreaks—with no culls ordered.

A Federal Court upheld the CFIA’s order. The judge ruled that new evidence of the ostriches’ current health or survival couldn’t be considered. The ruling also cited poor biosecurity on-site, including wild ducks visiting a nearby pond, and sick or dead ostriches kept near healthy ones. The farm is eligible for compensation (up to $3,000 per ostrich), but that hasn’t quelled growing public backlash.

The farm has heavily politicized the issue, staging convoy-style protests, livestreaming appeals via Librti and Rumble, and raising $125,000 through a “Save Our Ostriches” campaign. Dr. J. Scott Weese, Canada Research Chair in Zoonotic Diseases, said in January that avian flu is now so widespread that killing these birds won’t meaningfully reduce risk.

Here’s the problem: the facts of this case deserve scrutiny. But they're being swallowed up by culture war theatrics. The entry of MAGA-adjacent media and convoy-style protest politics threatens to bury legitimate scientific and ethical questions under performative outrage. This may be one of those rare broken clock moments.

The farm says no ostriches have died from H5N1 since January, but the RCMP is investigating two recent deaths, including of a bird reportedly shot in March and another this week.

RFK Jr. confirms he directly contacted the CFIA to formally request the flock be spared. His letter, co-signed by the heads of the NIH and FDA, offers U.S. support to study the ostriches’ antibodies to develop potential vaccines and treatments. B.C. Premier David Eby called for “flexibility” from the CFIA. The agency says the cull will proceed. 
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