RFK 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.
359 Articles
359 Articles
RFK Jr is wrong about mRNA vaccines – a scientist explains how they make COVID less deadly
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…
Doctors say ‘deeply troubling’ RFK Jr cuts to mRNA vaccine grants put the US at risk
‘A tremendous step backward, the politicization of science, and RFK Jr., who has been a lifelong anti-vaccine propagandist and science denialist, is now making policy,’ one doctor said
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…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium