RFK Jr. Cuts $500M mRNA Vaccine Funding Amid Health Sector Backlash

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has cut nearly $500 million from federal mRNA vaccine research funding, a move criticized by experts like Dr. Peter Hotez who warn it endangers pandemic preparedness and public health by removing support for a highly effective vaccine technology. The decision follows Kennedy's broader skepticism of vaccines, including replacing the CDC's vaccine advisory panel with members skeptical of vaccines and eliminating flu vaccines containing thimerosal, which many medical groups oppose as unscientific. Federal health staff have expressed concern that Kennedy's actions and misinformation have put public health workers at risk, especially after a deadly shooting at the CDC that was linked to vaccine disinformation. Critics also highlight Kennedy's accusations against organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, accusing them of corporate influence, while Kennedy's policies have dismantled long-standing public health structures. These developments have sparked fears that politicization and misinformation are undermining trust in public health institutions and vaccine science, potentially leading to harmful consequences for American health and safety. The controversy underscores a broader conflict between science-based vaccine policy and political interference under Kennedy's leadership.