Kennedy Defends mRNA Vaccine Funding Cuts Using Inaccurate Claims

Kennedy’s False Claims About mRNA Vaccines Undermine Scientific Consensus

In a controversial move, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the termination of $500 million in federal funding for mRNA vaccine development projects, falsely claiming that these vaccines “fail to protect effectively” against COVID-19 and suggesting they are unsafe. The decision has sparked significant backlash from leading infectious disease experts who point to overwhelming scientific evidence contradicting Kennedy’s assertions.

The canceled projects were funded by HHS’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), which is responsible for preparing the United States for public health emergencies such as pandemics. HHS also stated it would not fund any new vaccine projects using mRNA technology.

“We reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted,” Kennedy stated in an August 5 press release. “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.”

However, Kennedy’s claims run counter to extensive peer-reviewed scientific literature and expert consensus. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, called the assertion “simply not true,” adding, “We have ample data showing major reductions in serious illness, hospitalizations and deaths even after the virus variants have changed some.”

Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children’s Hospital, described the HHS announcement as “an exercise in disinformation,” emphasizing that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines “perform extremely well.”

The scientific evidence supporting mRNA vaccine efficacy is substantial. Clinical trials for both the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines demonstrated over 90% effectiveness in preventing symptomatic and severe COVID-19. While protection against mild disease and infection has waned with new variants, studies consistently show the vaccines remain highly effective at preventing severe disease and death.

A Yale School of Public Health study estimated that COVID-19 vaccines prevented more than 3 million deaths in the United States in the first two years alone, with the vast majority of Americans receiving mRNA vaccines. Recent CDC data presented in June showed that the 2024-2025 updated vaccines continued to provide significant protection, reducing the risk of hospitalization and critical illness by approximately 45% for adults 65 and older.

Kennedy has also made inaccurate claims about viral mutations rendering mRNA vaccines ineffective. “One mutation, and the vaccine becomes ineffective,” he stated in a video posted on X. Experts firmly reject this assertion.

“That’s flat out wrong,” said Hotez. No single mutation has rendered the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines ineffective. While multiple mutations have decreased effectiveness against new variants, the vaccines continue to provide substantial protection against severe outcomes. Furthermore, mRNA vaccines can be updated more rapidly than traditional platforms to address emerging variants.

Equally misleading are Kennedy’s implications about mRNA vaccine safety. The vaccines have undergone extensive global testing and monitoring, with side effects predominantly being either mild or rare. Serious adverse events such as myocarditis occur infrequently and are typically less severe than cases resulting from COVID-19 infection itself.

“The notion that this vaccine is more dangerous than the virus is just fanciful,” said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Dr. Drew Weissman, who won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work that facilitated mRNA vaccine development, called the HHS decision “crippling our science for decades to come.” He warned that the United States risks falling behind globally in developing mRNA therapeutics, potentially losing top scientific talent to overseas institutions.

Former President Donald Trump, when asked about Kennedy’s decision, highlighted Operation Warp Speed’s achievements but indicated the administration was “on to other things now.”

Experts have also questioned Kennedy’s suggestion that HHS would invest in “safer” technologies such as whole-virus vaccines. Osterholm noted that such platforms have previously been evaluated and “not shown to be effective.” Hotez added that China’s whole-virus COVID-19 vaccine proved “pretty mediocre” and that such approaches would likely be too slow for pandemic response.

The decision to defund mRNA vaccine research raises serious concerns about America’s pandemic preparedness and represents a significant departure from scientific consensus on vaccine efficacy and safety.