HHS Cancellation of Funding for mRNA Vaccines is a Dangerous Mistake that Puts Millions of Lives at Risk

A statement by Jaime M. Yassif, PhD, vice president, NTI Global Biological Policy and Programs:

U.S. Health and Human Services Department Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr’s announcement that the government will cancel or otherwise alter up to $500M in contracts to develop mRNA vaccines, the technology used to respond to COVID-19, is a grave mistake. mRNA vaccines saved millions of lives during COVID-19, and halting research on much needed technology for rapidly developing new vaccines makes Americans and the world vulnerable to future pandemics.

mRNA technology is crucial for rapidly deploying lifesaving defenses in response to infectious disease outbreaks—whether naturally occurring, the result of a lab accident, or caused by a bioweapons attack. The vaccines developed through this technology also offer a valuable deterrent against bioweapons development and use by showing that the world can rapidly contain and limit their impact.

Secretary Kennedy defended this decision by falsely asserting that “the data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu.” This claim is patently false. If not for the rapid deployment of mRNA vaccines during COVID-19, the cost in lives lost and economic damage would have been far more severe.

It is also worth noting that previous research on coronavirus contributed to rapid vaccine development and deployment during COVID-19. This fact highlights the importance of continued investment in applied bioscience and biotechnology research to guard against future pandemic threats.

With the odds of another pandemic rising—due to both naturally emerging infectious diseases like H5N1 bird flu and the potential misuse of bioscience and biotechnology to cause harm—it is crucial to develop robust defenses now. The world is likely to face another pandemic in our lifetimes, and the next one could be as severe as COVID or significantly worse.

mRNA vaccines are a vital tool for saving lives, protecting economies, and ensuring security in the United States and around the globe. The U.S. government must reverse this ill-advised decision and continue to invest in this crucial technology.