In a move that’s shaking up the public health world, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has canceled $500 million in federal funding earmarked for 22 vaccine development programs, most of which relied on mRNA technology. This includes research into vaccines for COVID-19, seasonal flu, and even bird flu—diseases many experts say still pose major threats.
As the current Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kennedy is shifting course dramatically. He says he wants to focus on what he calls “safer, broader platforms” for vaccines, though he hasn’t offered any specifics about what that actually looks like. The decision means partnerships with pharma giants like Pfizer and Moderna are being shut down or paused indefinitely.
Health professionals aren’t holding back. Leading infectious disease experts argue this could undermine years of progress. mRNA technology played a key role in bringing the COVID-19 pandemic under control, and ongoing research was seen as essential for preparing against future outbreaks.
But this isn’t Kennedy’s first controversial health move. Earlier this summer, he cut over $1 billion in U.S. funding to Gavi, a global vaccine alliance responsible for immunizing children in low-income countries. He also replaced 17 CDC vaccine advisers, sparking concerns about whether science is taking a backseat to politics.
So far, there’s no word on where that $500 million will be reallocated—or if it will stay in public health at all.
