The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has unveiled a sweeping new plan to invest $500 million into the development of “universal vaccines” aimed at protecting Americans from multiple families of infectious diseases—not just COVID-19.
The effort, called Generation Gold Standard, is being led by the National Institutes of Health and marks a strategic shift from rapid-response pandemic shots to longer-term vaccine platforms designed to provide broader, more durable immunity. The initiative targets a wide range of respiratory viruses, including influenza, coronaviruses, and RSV, with the goal of building cross-strain protection well before the next outbreak occurs.
Unlike previous emergency-use approaches during the COVID-19 era, the new initiative will rely on a more traditional vaccine model: inactivated whole-virus vaccines using a compound called beta-propiolactone (BPL) to safely trigger immune responses. This method, long used in the development of seasonal flu shots, is now being retooled to protect against an entire category of viral threats.
Two leading vaccine candidates have emerged under this program—BPL-1357 and BPL-24910—both spearheaded by NIH researchers Dr. Matthew Memoli and Dr. Jeffery Taubenberger. BPL-1357, an intranasal vaccine derived from four low-pathogenic avian influenza strains, has already completed Phase I human trials and will move into further testing, with the FDA tentatively reviewing it for approval around 2029.
In a move that distinguishes this administration’s approach from the past, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emphasized that all vaccines developed under the Generation Gold Standard banner will be required to undergo double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials before receiving regulatory clearance. That marks a firm departure from the emergency-use pathways that became common during the pandemic, where speed often took precedence over long-term safety data.
Kennedy called the new policy “a return to rigorous science,” arguing that “public trust in vaccines can only be restored through transparency, data integrity, and independent validation.” While some public health advocates have raised concerns about potential delays in vaccine rollout, others have applauded the shift toward caution and accountability.
The $500 million initiative is expected to fund both government research and partnerships with private biotech companies pursuing similar technologies. Officials say the goal is to establish a long-term defense infrastructure against emerging biological threats while rebuilding public confidence in vaccine development after years of political controversy and rushed approvals.
As part of the broader strategy, HHS plans to evaluate how lessons from the COVID-19 response can be applied to future health crises—without repeating the same mistakes. Generation Gold Standard is expected to set the tone for a new chapter in U.S. pandemic preparedness: one based on breadth, safety, and scientific rigor.