The Trump administration is moving quick. They’ve gotten more done in less than a year than some get done in a whole term.
Now RFK Jr. slashed a major federal program in a big win for MAGA.
HHS Terminates mRNA Vaccine Development Contracts
This week, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the cancellation of 22 mRNA vaccine development contracts, totaling approximately $500 million.
In a video posted to X, Kennedy stated that the decision followed consultations with experts from the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, who determined that mRNA vaccines, widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic, were less effective against respiratory viruses due to their susceptibility to mutations.
WATCH:
We reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted. 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. We’re shifting that funding toward… pic.twitter.com/GPKbuU7ywN
— Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) August 5, 2025
The funds will be redirected to alternative vaccine platforms designed to remain effective as viruses evolve, according to an HHS press release.
Kennedy’s Assessment of mRNA Vaccines
Kennedy criticized mRNA vaccines for targeting a single viral antigen, which he said makes them vulnerable to antigenic shift, where a single mutation can render them ineffective.
“One mutation, and the vaccine becomes ineffective,” he noted, citing the Omicron variant’s spread among vaccinated individuals as evidence.
He argued that mRNA vaccines can contribute to prolonged pandemics by encouraging viral mutations to evade immunity.
Despite the cancellations, Kennedy emphasized HHS’s commitment to supporting “safe, effective vaccines for every American who wants them,” focusing on technologies with broader protective capabilities.
Shift to Alternative Vaccine Platforms
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), an HHS agency, is terminating the mRNA contracts based on data indicating their limited efficacy against upper respiratory infections like COVID-19 and influenza.
BARDA will now invest in platforms with stronger safety records and transparent clinical and manufacturing practices, such as whole-virus vaccines and other novel technologies.
The policy shift aims to prioritize evidence-based solutions that meet current scientific standards, moving away from approaches developed during the pandemic’s emergency phase, according to HHS.
