Vaccines Show the Way Forward for U.S. Manufacturing
By Phyllis Arthur
The push to bring manufacturing back to America sits at the top of President Donald Trump’s agenda. He has vowed to revitalize U.S. industry.
It’s the right goal, but the government must realize it already has a proven model to follow: vaccines. These lifesaving medical tools represent our clearest example of advanced manufacturing, on American soil, done right.
In the early 2000s, as pandemic risks like H1N1 and SARS became apparent, U.S. policymakers pressed for an “always-on” vaccine capability – infrastructure ready to scale at a moment’s notice. That has paid off decisively. We’ve since seen more than 20 years of vaccine manufacturer investment in our workforce, regulatory science and a stable market.
And yet, the Department of Health and Human Services is now moving in the opposite direction. Instead of holding vaccine manufacturing up as the blueprint for industrial renewal, HHS’ recent decisions to curtail mRNA vaccine development and cancel funding have shaken confidence in the industry – and risk undermining the president’s agenda.
Without even being asked, vaccine makers are delivering on the administration’s goals of ensuring that the U.S. leads the world in manufacturing. Moderna manufactures vaccines at its in-house production facility in Norwood, Massachusetts. CSL Seqirus operates a large manufacturing site in Holly Springs, North Carolina – one of the largest producers of cell-based flu vaccines and a cornerstone of national pandemic preparedness.
Meanwhile, Merck cut the ribbon on a $1 billion, state-of-the-art plant in Durham, North Carolina – designed to accelerate U.S. vaccine manufacturing. Sanofi has pledged $20 billion in U.S. investments through 2030, which includes bolstering research and domestic production, on top of their existing expansive manufacturing facility in Swiftwater, Pennsylvania. And in late 2024, GSK announced an $800 million investment in its vaccines manufacturing facility in Marietta, Pennsylvania.
These investments aren’t just numbers on a balance sheet – they translate directly into stronger safeguards for Americans’ well-being.
Vaccines don’t just save lives – they strengthen the economy. Every dollar invested in adult vaccination programs can generate as much as $19 in returns.
And the stakes are strategic: A robust domestic vaccine industry ensures a steady supply of lifesaving medicines in times of crisis. By keeping production rooted in the United States, we can better withstand future pandemics, prevent global supply chain disruptions and reduce our dependence on foreign governments. In today’s world, where health threats and geopolitics are increasingly intertwined, vaccines are a strategic necessity.
Put plainly: Vaccine manufacturing is the model of what a revitalized U.S. industrial base should look like. Yet recent actions are eroding confidence in this proven foundation. HHS recently canceled more than 20 federally funded research projects – pulling $500 million out of work that was underway to shore up defenses against respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu. Withdrawing support for this cutting-edge medical technology will choke off future breakthroughs and undercut America’s public health readiness.
HHS also dismissed every member of the government’s long-standing vaccine advisory panel, replacing them midstream with handpicked candidates – some with open histories of vaccine skepticism. And the agency has muddled federal guidance, with officials insisting certain vaccines will be widely available this winter – yet approval is restricted to only certain groups, leaving states scrambling and families confused.
This is the opposite of what American manufacturing needs right now.
Getting back on track will require restoring the canceled vaccine projects, ensuring a science-based advisory process and establishing consistent national guidance that provides companies with the certainty they need to continue investing in U.S. capacity.
Phyllis Arthur is the executive vice president & head of healthcare policy and programs at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). This article originally appeared in the U.S. News & World Report.
