[KARAH RUCKER]

U-S HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE CONSIDERING PULLING THE PLUG ON A 590-MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT AWARDED TO MODERNA TO DEVELOP A BIRD FLU VACCINE FOR HUMANS.

THE FUNDING AGREEMENT FOR THE PROGRAM CAME DURING THE FINAL DAYS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE REPORTS, THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IS NOW REVIEWING THE CONTRACT.

THE MOVE IS PART OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S EXAMINATION OF SPENDING ON “MESSENGER R-N-A-BASED TECHNOLOGY,” THE SAME KIND USED IN COVID-19 SHOTS.

SHARES OF MODERNA FELL AS MUCH AS FIVE-PERCENT THURSDAY AFTER THE REVIEW WAS REVEALED.

A BLOOMBERG INTELLIGENCE ANALYST SAYS THE POTENTIAL TERMINATION OF THE CONTRACT SIGNALS INCREASED RESISTANCE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO GO “FORWARD WITH VACCINES BASED ON HISTORICAL PLANS, PARTICULARLY M-R-N-A SHOTS.”

AS OF THIS RECORDING — THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HASN’T PUBLICLY COMMENTED ON THE REVIEW —

RATHER THIS REPORT IS BASED OFF OF ADMIN OFFICIALS WHO SPOKE ANONYMOUSLY WITH BLOOMBERG.

M-R-N-A TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS VACCINES TO BE MANUFACTURED MORE QUICKLY THAN TRADITIONAL ONES.

THE POTENTIAL PULLBACK OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS FOR MODERNA COMES AMID A RECORD-BREAKING BIRD FLU OUTBREAK IMPACTING DOZENS OF CATTLE HERDS AND POULTRY FLOCKS ACROSS THE U-S RESULTING IN A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN EGG PRICES.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS ALSO WORKING TO TACKLE THE SOARING COSTS OF EGGS.

AS STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS RECENTLY REPORTED, AGRICULTURE SECRETARY BROOKE ROLLINS RELEASED A FIVE-POINT-PLAN THIS WEEK TO LOWER THE PRICE OF EGGS AND COMBAT THE SPREAD OF THE BIRD FLU.

THE PLAN FOCUSES MOSTLY ON THE IMPACT AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE, BANKING ON THE FACT H-5-N-1 IS STILL CONSIDERED A VERY LOW RISK TO HUMANS, ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.

SO FAR, MOST of THE 70 HUMAN CASES OF THE VIRUS IN THE U-S HAVE BEEN FARMWORKERS.

MOST OF THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’S ONE-BILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING IS GOING TOWARD BIO-SECURITY MEASURES AT FARMS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS.

THE U-S-D-A SAYS IT WILL PAY UP TO 75 PERCENT OF THE COST TO FIX BIO-SECURITY HAZARDS AT BARNS.

EGG PRICES HAVE REPORTEDLY INCREASED NEARLY 160 PERCENT SINCE JANUARY OF 2021 AND THE U-S-D-A ESTIMATES UNDER CURRENT CONDITIONS — EGG PRICES COULD RISE ANOTHER 41 PERCENT THIS YEAR.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.