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 continuing its grant-canceling spree, allegedly targeting dozens of research projects related to studying vaccine hesitancy and improving vaccine rates, according to several news reports.

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,

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) 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.

The NIH will terminate or limit dozens of grants related to vaccine hesitancy and uptake. ( Washington Post) Researchers at the NIH's National Cancer Institute now must get special approval before publishing information on topics like vaccines, fluoride, autism, and peanut allergies. ( ProPublica)

The decision comes at a time when vaccine acceptance in the US remains a critical public health issue. More than 200 cases of measles have been reported in 12 states, with two deaths from the disease,