The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced it will cancel around £376 million in funding for mRNA vaccine research, halting 22 projects from major pharmaceutical firms such as Pfizer and Moderna. These initiatives had been focused on developing vaccines against respiratory viruses like bird flu, influenza, and Covid-19.
US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, known for his controversial views on vaccines, said the decision was based on concerns about the safety and long-term effectiveness of mRNA technology. He stated that after a thorough review, his department concluded these vaccines offered limited protection against respiratory viruses and may even contribute to virus mutation and prolonged outbreaks.
Medical experts, however, have condemned the move. Dr Paul Offit, a leading paediatrician and vaccine specialist, argued that mRNA vaccines have proven to be both safe and vital in the fight against severe infections like Covid-19. He emphasised that viruses naturally mutate over time, regardless of vaccine use, and warned that the funding cut could weaken the US response to future pandemics.
The HHS plans to redirect funding towards vaccine platforms with longer-established safety records. This decision follows other sweeping changes under Kennedy, including the removal of the Covid-19 vaccine from official guidance for healthy children and pregnant women, and the dismissal of a key immunisation advisory committee.
