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

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,

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.

Some of terminated grants focused on boosting uptake in minority populations, with the cuts covering a range of vaccines.

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,