• The US government is discontinuing $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine research.
• Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claims mRNA vaccines do not effectively protect against respiratory infections.
• Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams defends mRNA technology, stating it has saved over 2 million lives.
• The decision has sparked significant controversy among public health officials and scientists.
• Funds will be redirected towards alternative vaccine technologies, according to Kennedy.

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announced the discontinuation of funding for mRNA vaccine research amounting to approximately $500 million. This move includes the cancellation of 22 development projects supported by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). Kennedy stated, "We reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted," asserting that the data indicated that "these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu," according to Le Monde and The Hill.

Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams strongly criticized Kennedy's assertions about mRNA vaccines, claiming they are "simply not true." He pointed out that "by the most conservative estimates, upward of 2 million lives have been saved because of mRNA technology." He emphasized that the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines is one of President Trump's "greatest achievements." Adams expressed concern that halting this research threatens advancements in many critical areas of modern medicine, emphasizing the technology's potential beyond COVID-19, according to CBS News and The Hill.

Adding to the controversy, Adams indicated that shifting focus away from mRNA technology could have dire consequences, stating, "People are going to die because we're cutting short funding for this technology." He elaborated on mRNA's role in developing effective vaccines and treatments for other diseases, such as cancers and HIV, signifying a potentially detrimental shift in health policy priorities under the current administration. This shift is indicative of a broader skepticism towards vaccines fostered by Kennedy's rhetoric, highlighting the division in public health discussions, according to Le Monde, CBS News, and The Hill.