Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Tuesday the termination of nearly $500 million in federal funding for mRNA vaccine development, canceling 22 projects and affecting major pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer, Moderna, and several universities.
The decision eliminates contracts and grants administered by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority within Kennedy’s department. Affected institutions include Emory University, Tiba Biotech, Sanofi Pasteur, CSL Seqirus, and AstraZeneca, with some contracts terminated entirely while others were restructured or reduced in scope.
Kennedy justified the cuts by claiming mRNA vaccines are ineffective against mutating viruses. He stated in a video announcement that after reviewing scientific data and consulting experts, his department determined that “mRNA technology poses more risk than benefits for these respiratory viruses.” The health secretary argued that a single mutation can render mRNA vaccines ineffective and that the technology may encourage new mutations, potentially prolonging pandemics.
The funding cancellation includes a significant contract with Moderna for bird flu vaccine development. The federal government had awarded the company $176 million last year, followed by an additional $590 million earlier this year to expedite mRNA-based bird flu vaccine production. The University of Texas Medical Branch also lost its related contract.
Medical experts have criticized the decision as scientifically unfounded and potentially dangerous for national health security. Dr. Michael Osterholm from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy characterized the move as the most dangerous public health decision he has witnessed in five decades of practice. Infectious disease physician Dr. Paul Offit from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia described mRNA vaccines as remarkably safe technology that saved millions of lives.
The scientific community has disputed Kennedy’s characterization of mRNA vaccine limitations. Experts noted that virus mutations present challenges for all vaccine types, not specifically mRNA technology. Dr. David Elliman from University College London indicated that abandoning mRNA research without substantial evidence is unjustified, particularly given the technology’s demonstrated promise for various medical applications.
A detailed analysis of Kennedy’s supporting documentation revealed significant flaws in his scientific justification. The 181-page bibliography cited by his department reportedly misrepresented research findings, with many studies actually supporting vaccination over infection. The compilation included laboratory experiments using injection methods never employed in human vaccination, such as direct brain tissue injection in mice.
The funding cuts extend beyond pandemic preparedness to potentially groundbreaking medical research. Johns Hopkins University professor Jeff Coller emphasized that mRNA technology shows exceptional promise for cancer treatment, particularly pancreatic cancer. A 2023 clinical trial using mRNA vaccines to boost immune system response in pancreatic cancer patients showed improvements in approximately 50 percent of participants.
Research applications for mRNA technology span multiple medical fields, including autoimmune diseases, HIV prevention, and rare genetic disorders. Experimental treatments have demonstrated potential effectiveness against lung, colorectal, and gastric cancers. The technology has also been studied for treating multiple sclerosis, Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
The decision represents a significant policy reversal from the Trump administration’s previous support for mRNA vaccine development during the COVID-19 pandemic. Operation Warp Speed, launched during Trump’s first term, facilitated rapid mRNA vaccine development that health experts credit with preventing millions of deaths worldwide.
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya defended the funding termination, suggesting that public distrust makes the mRNA platform no longer viable for vaccine development. He argued that widespread skepticism among the population renders the technology ineffective for public health purposes, regardless of its scientific merits.
Kennedy has previously taken several actions targeting vaccine programs since assuming his role. In June, he dismissed all 17 members of the scientific advisory panel on vaccines at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, replacing them with his own selections. He also removed COVID-19 vaccines from the CDC’s recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women.
The health secretary has a documented history of vaccine skepticism, having previously chaired the anti-vaccine advocacy group Children’s Health Defense until 2023. Kennedy has made controversial statements linking vaccines to autism, despite scientific consensus debunking such claims, and has questioned vaccine safety across multiple public forums.
Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, who chairs the Senate Health Committee, previously pledged to defend mRNA vaccine access and has indicated he will use his oversight authority to challenge any attempts to remove public access to life-saving vaccines without ironclad scientific evidence accepted by the mainstream scientific community.
