Cliff Notes
- The US health department has announced $500 million in cuts to various vaccine development projects, including those for COVID-19 and flu vaccines, as part of a broader reduction in vaccine programmes.
- RFK Jr stated that 22 mRNA vaccine projects will be halted, reflecting a shift towards “safer” vaccine strategies and the development of a “universal vaccine” intended to mimic natural immunity.
- Experts have expressed concerns over these cuts, with some labelling the decision as one of the most dangerous in public health history, given the ongoing issues like measles outbreaks and the success of mRNA vaccines during the pandemic.
RFK Jr announces US is scrapping $500m of vaccine projects | US News
America’s vaccine-sceptic health secretary has announced $500m (£375.8m) worth of cuts to their development in the country.
The US health department is cancelling contracts and pulling funding for jabs to fight viruses like COVID-19 and the flu, it was announced on Tuesday.
Robert F Kennedy Jr, known as RFK Jr, said 22 projects developing mRNA vaccines will be halted. It is the latest in a series of decisions to reduce US vaccine programmes.
The health secretary has fired the panel that makes vaccine recommendations, reduced recommendations for COVID-19 shots, and refused to endorse vaccines despite a worsening measles outbreak.
RFK Jr claims the US will now prioritise “safer, broader vaccine strategies, like whole-virus vaccines and novel platforms that don’t collapse when viruses mutate”.
Responding to the announcement of cuts, Mike Osterholm, a University of Minnesota expert on infectious diseases and pandemic preparations, said: “I don’t think I’ve seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business.”
