US Health Secretary RFK Jr Cuts $500M mRNA Vaccine Research Amid Safety Disputes

US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced the cancellation of nearly $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine research, affecting 22 projects and ending new mRNA vaccine development contracts. Kennedy has claimed that mRNA vaccines are ineffective against upper respiratory tract infections and promote viral mutations, assertions that contradict scientific consensus and evidence showing that mRNA vaccines have saved millions of lives and prevented millions of hospitalizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts emphasize that mRNA vaccines work by instructing cells to produce viral proteins that stimulate immune responses, and that viral mutations occur naturally regardless of vaccination. Scientists and researchers have criticized Kennedy's decision as damaging to public health progress and infectious disease preparedness, highlighting the proven safety and transformative potential of RNA technology in medicine. While US funding is being cut, other countries such as New Zealand continue to support mRNA vaccine research to advance global health benefits. This move by the US health department risks undermining decades of advancements in vaccine science and pandemic readiness.