Breaking: Health secretary RFK Jr. shuts door on U.S. investment in mRNA vaccine research

Key HHS agency will wind down funding, delivering major blow to scientific efforts

Log In    Subscribe BREAKING NEWS   Health secretary RFK Jr. shuts door on U.S. investment in mRNA vaccine research By Helen Branswell Adobe Health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday announced that the government's emergency preparedness agency will no longer fund work on messenger RNA vaccines, delivering a crippling blow to the country's capacity to develop vaccines during the next pandemic or public health emergency.   Kennedy said the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority was terminating 22 grants supporting development of mRNA vaccines because "data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu." Studies dispute Kennedy's claim. Vaccine experts and people steeped in pandemic preparedness expressed horror at the news. READ MORE Sign up for Daily Recap All the health and medical news you need today, in one email. Learn more. In Case You Missed It mRNA, once lauded as a scientific marvel, is now a government target By Lizzy Lawrence and Isabella Cueto Exclusive: HHS devises legal playbook for future grant terminations, internal memo shows By Anil Oza New analysis predicts sprawling effects of proposed NIH budget cuts By Anil Oza Scientists show that mRNA therapy can be delivered as a capsule By Marissa Russo Don't miss out on another STAT investigation Unlock the world of health and medicine with a subscription to STAT+ Learn more STAT, 1 Exchange Place, Boston, MA ©2025, All Rights Reserved. I no longer wish to receive STAT emails Update Newsletter Preferences • Contact Us • Advertise with Us