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

The Trump administration is cancelling studies about ways to improve vaccine trust and access, a move that comes in the midst of a large measles outbreak fueled by unvaccinated children. Researchers with grants from the NIH to study why some people have questions or fears about vaccines and how to help those who want to be vaccinated overcome barriers are getting letters cancelling their projects.

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.

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,