The National Institutes of Health is terminating dozens of studies examining why people are hesitant about vaccines and how to increase uptake. mRNA vaccine research may be on the chopping block, too.

President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the National Institutes of Health answered sharp questions in a confirmation hearing Wednesday about his views on vaccines, research funding and the role scientists should play in a pandemic.

A federal judge on Wednesday paused cuts to health funding nationwide in response to a lawsuit filed by Oregon and 21 other states against the Trump administration. Universities and Democratic-led states warned the cuts would lead to layoffs, lab closures and a curtailment of scientific and medical studies.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is cutting or canceling more than 40 grants focused on vaccine hesitancy and ways to increase vaccine acceptance, according to an email obtained by The Washington Post.

The order covers more than 40 awards to researchers around the country seeking to understand why vaccine acceptance has declined.

It is the policy of NIH not to prioritize research activities that focuses gaining scientific knowledge on why individuals are hesitant to be vaccinated and/or explore ways to improve vaccine interest and commitment,

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the USA have decided to withdraw or limit grants for research concerning the promotion of vaccinations and ways to popularize vaccinations in society. Due to low vaccination rates,