US cancels funding for several mRNA vaccines

Donald Trump's health secretary, vaccine skeptic Robert Kennedy Jr., announced Tuesday that the United States would stop funding the development of several mRNA vaccines, a promising technology that has saved millions of lives during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We have reviewed the science, listened to the experts and we are taking action," Kennedy said in a statement, announcing the completion of 22 investments totaling "approximately $500 million."

This funding focused on the development of treatments for bird flu and swine flu, and was awarded (or is in the process of being awarded) to several major names in the pharmaceutical industry, such as Moderna, Pfizer and Sanofi.

Messenger RNA vaccines offer much hope, particularly in the fight against viruses, but also against cancer.

"The data shows that these vaccines do not effectively protect against upper respiratory infections such as Covid and influenza," the minister accused, without going into further detail.

He also questioned their safety by announcing that he would redirect funds towards "safer" technologies.

Overhauling US Vaccine Policy

The funding allocated is that which was allocated to the powerful American authority responsible for providing the country with the means to deal with health crises, Barda.

Funding from other agencies affiliated with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is not affected.

Strongly contested by many experts for his anti-vaccine positions, Robert Kennedy Jr. has initiated a profound overhaul of American vaccination policy since taking office.

An undeniable scientific success, messenger RNA technology played a decisive role during the global Covid-19 pandemic by enabling the rapid development of effective vaccines.

But it has also been the target of numerous disinformation campaigns which have fueled citizens' mistrust.