The National Institutes of Health is terminating dozens of studies examining why people are hesitant about vaccines and how to increase uptake.

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,