HHS Ends Major mRNA Vaccine Projects, Redirects Funding

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has terminated 22 federally funded mRNA vaccine projects worth nearly $500 million, directly impacting major pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Moderna, Sanofi, and AstraZeneca. The canceled contracts, managed by BARDA, include research into vaccines for COVID-19, influenza, and H5N1 bird flu. Kennedy claims the decision is based on data questioning mRNA vaccine effectiveness against upper respiratory infections, though health experts strongly dispute this reasoning. Many scientists and public health officials warn that the cuts risk undermining U.S. pandemic preparedness and increasing vulnerability in future health crises. The administration plans to redirect funding toward broader vaccine platforms like whole-virus vaccines, but has not provided clear scientific evidence for the shift. The move has generated widespread criticism from the medical and scientific communities.