US slashes mRNA vaccine deals, sparking safety concerns

U.S. Health Secretary Trims mRNA Vaccine Funding

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has shifted the federal vaccine budget away from the mRNA platform that powered the COVID‑19 pandemic’s end and saved millions of lives. His announcement, dated Tuesday, will terminate 22 mRNA‑based contracts, including Moderna’s bird flu vaccine and several Pfizer and Sanofi projects, totaling nearly $500 million.

Barred Investments and New Directions

• Moderna bird flu vaccine: The company confirmed the shutdown in May.
• Pre‑award solicitations: Multiple proposals from Pfizer and Sanofi were cancelled or rejected.
• Late‑stage projects: Excluded from the cut to preserve earlier taxpayer investment.

“We reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted,” Kennedy said. “BARDA is terminating 22 mRNA vaccine development investments because the data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu.”

Shifting the Vaccine Landscape

“We’re shifting that funding toward safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as viruses mutate,” he added. “HHS supports safe, effective vaccines for every American who wants them.”

Policy Overhaul Since Inauguration

Since taking office, Kennedy has overhauled U.S. health policy by firing a panel of vaccine experts and appointing his own aides. The new panel banned a vaccine preservative long targeted by the anti‑vaccine movement, despite its proven safety record. Kennedy also ordered a broad study on the debunked link between vaccines and autism.

How mRNA Vaccines Work

Unlike traditional vaccines that use weakened or inactivated pathogens, mRNA shots deliver genetic instructions that prompt cells to produce a decoy of the pathogen. This trains the immune system to fight the real virus.

From Lab Bench to Global Use

The technology, developed over decades, was accelerated by President Trump’s Operation Warp Speed—a public‑private partnership led by BARDA that poured billions into companies to fast‑track development.

Recognition and Debate

katalin kariko and drew weissman, pioneers of mRNA vaccine technology, received the 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine for their contribution to the unprecedented rate of vaccine development during one of the greatest threats to human health in modern times.