The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced it will cancel $500 million in funding for the development of mRNA vaccines aimed at combating viruses such as Covid-19 and influenza,a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from health professionals and scientists.
The move affects 22 ongoing vaccine projects being spearheaded by major pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer and Moderna, with a particular focus on vaccines for bird flu and other respiratory threats.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine sceptic, confirmed the funding cut in a statement on Thursday, citing safety concerns about mRNA technology. “mRNA technology poses more risks than benefits for these respiratory viruses,” Kennedy said. He added that the department had “reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted,” asserting that “the data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu.”
Kennedy claimed that mRNA vaccines could “encourage new mutations and actually prolong pandemics as the virus constantly mutates to escape the protective effects of the vaccine.” He said the funding would be redirected to “safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate.”
The decision has drawn widespread criticism from medical experts who warn it could leave the country vulnerable to future pandemics. Dr Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a key figure in vaccine development, said the rationale behind the cuts is scientifically flawed.
“Viruses mutate whether we vaccinate or not,” Dr Offit said, pointing out that the flu virus mutates every year regardless of vaccination, while the measles virus — targeted by a widely-used mRNA vaccine — has remained genetically stable. “mRNA vaccines are remarkably safe and have been crucial in preventing severe disease from viruses like Covid-19,” he added.
Peter Lurie, a former official at the US Food and Drug Administration, described the decision as the country “turning its back on one of the most promising tools to fight the next pandemic.” He noted that mRNA vaccines played a critical role in curbing the Covid-19 pandemic and saving millions of lives worldwide.
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the division of HHS responsible for overseeing vaccine development, said it would now prioritise vaccine platforms “with stronger safety records and transparent clinical and manufacturing data practices.”
Unlike traditional vaccines that use inactivated viruses, mRNA vaccines work by instructing cells to produce proteins that trigger an immune response. Both Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA vaccines were tested in large-scale clinical trials before deployment and were widely regarded as safe and effective.
Since assuming office, Kennedy has initiated sweeping changes to how the US health system approaches vaccines. In June, he dismissed all 17 members of the committee responsible for issuing federal immunisation recommendations, replacing them with individuals who have questioned vaccine safety. He has also removed the Covid-19 vaccine from the CDC’s recommended schedule for healthy children and pregnant women.
Dr Offit warned the decision to cut mRNA funding could leave the US less prepared for emerging viral threats. “This puts us in a more dangerous position,” he said. “mRNA technology allowed for rapid response during Covid-19, it’s a mistake to abandon it now.”
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