US EditionRFK Jr cancels $500m in mRNA vaccine development in the US
UNITED STATES, AUG 7 – Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. halted 22 mRNA vaccine projects worth nearly $500 million, shifting focus to broader vaccine platforms amid concerns about mRNA efficacy against respiratory viruses.
- On August 6, 2025, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the termination of 22 mRNA vaccine projects, pulling $500 million in federal funding.
- Amid rising skepticism, Kennedy claimed mRNA vaccines underperform against respiratory viruses and can prolong pandemics, prompting BARDA to terminate 22 investments.
- The announcement was made by Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr., who said `We reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted` in a statement.
- Experts reacted swiftly, with Dr. Jerome Adams warning `this move is going to cost lives` and Dr. Paul Offit calling it short-sighted amid bird flu concerns.
- Looking ahead, BARDA will redirect its vaccine investment focus toward alternative approaches, including whole-virus vaccines and other emerging immunization platforms.
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Joshua Sukoff/ShutterstockUS health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has announced he is cancelling US$500 million (£374 million) of research into mRNA vaccines, citing unproven concerns about their safety and long-term effects. Kennedy has claimed that mRNA vaccines “encourage new mutations and can actually prolong pandemics” – a misleading statement that contradicts the scientific consensus on viral evolution and effects of vaccination. But scie…
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Former Trump official calls Kennedy's latest move a 'huge strategic misstep' that 'deeply compromises national security'
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday his plans to cancel $500 million in vaccine development projects, marking a significant shift in federal health policy. The decision targets all projects that utilize mRNA technology, the same platform used in COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. Kennedy, who has long been critical of vaccines, stated that the move follows a comprehensive review of scientific evidence. According to P…
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