RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine contracts : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4874x3249+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2c%2F3f%2F18ec19304a479ff140a705bf8a57%2Fap25211762797023.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4874x3249+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2c%2F3f%2F18ec19304a479ff140a705bf8a57%2Fap25211762797023.jpg" class="img" alt="Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks as President Donald Trump listens at an event to promote his proposal to improve Americans' access to their medical records in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Washington." fetchpriority="high"/> Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks as President Donald Trump listens at an occasion to advertise his proposal to enhance People' entry to their medical information within the East Room of the White Home, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Washington. Mark Schiefelbein/AP cover caption

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Mark Schiefelbein/AP WASHINGTON — The Division of Well being and Human Companies will cancel contracts and pull funding for some vaccines which are being developed to combat respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and the flu.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. introduced in an announcement Tuesday that 22 initiatives, totaling $500 million, to develop vaccines utilizing mRNA expertise might be halted.

Kennedy's resolution to terminate the initiatives is the most recent in a string of choices which have put the longtime vaccine critic's doubts about photographs into full impact on the nation's well being division. Kennedy has pulled again suggestions across the COVID-19 photographs, fired the panel that makes vaccine suggestions, and refused to supply a vigorous endorsement of vaccinations as a measles outbreak worsened.

The well being secretary criticized mRNA vaccines in a video on his social media accounts, explaining the choice to cancel initiatives being led by the nation's main pharmaceutical corporations, together with Pfizer and Moderna, that supply safety in opposition to viruses just like the flu, COVID-19 and H5N1.

"To switch the troubled mRNA packages, we're prioritizing the event of safer, broader vaccine methods, like whole-virus vaccines and novel platforms that do not collapse when viruses mutate," Kennedy mentioned within the video.

Infectious illness consultants say the mRNA expertise utilized in vaccines is protected, and so they credit score its growth throughout the first Trump administration with slowing the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. Future pandemics, they warned, might be more durable to cease with out the assistance of mRNA.

"I do not assume I've seen a extra harmful resolution in public well being in my 50 years within the enterprise," mentioned Mike Osterholm, a College of Minnesota skilled on infectious ailments and pandemic preparations.

He famous mRNA expertise gives potential benefits of speedy manufacturing, essential within the occasion of a brand new pandemic that requires a brand new vaccine.

The shelving of the mRNA initiatives is short-sighted as considerations a few hen flu pandemic proceed to loom, mentioned Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine skilled at Kids's Hospital of Philadelphia.

"It is actually saved hundreds of thousands of lives," Offit mentioned of the present mRNA vaccines.

Scientists are utilizing mRNA for greater than infectious illness vaccines, with researchers around the globe exploring its use for most cancers immunotherapies. On the White Home earlier this 12 months, billionaire tech entrepreneur Larry Ellison praised mRNA for its potential to deal with most cancers.

Historically, vaccines have required rising items of viruses, usually in rooster eggs or big vats of cells, then purifying that materials. The mRNA method begins with a snippet of genetic code that carries directions for making proteins. Scientists decide the protein to focus on, inject that blueprint and the physique makes simply sufficient to set off immune safety — producing its personal vaccine dose.

In an announcement Tuesday, HHS mentioned "different makes use of of mRNA expertise throughout the division are usually not impacted by this announcement."

The mRNA expertise is utilized in authorised COVID-19 and RSV photographs, however has not but been authorised for a flu shot. Moderna, which was learning a mixture COVID-19 and flu mRNA shot, had mentioned it believed mRNA might pace up manufacturing of flu photographs in contrast with conventional vaccines.

The deserted mRNA initiatives sign a "shift in vaccine growth priorities," the well being division mentioned in its assertion, including that it'll begin "investing in higher options."

"Let me be completely clear, HHS helps protected, efficient vaccines for each American who desires them," Kennedy mentioned within the assertion.

Talking hours later Tuesday at a information convention in Anchorage, Alaska, alongside the state's two Republican U.S. senators, Kennedy mentioned work is underway on another.