HHS halts mRNA vaccine funding

The department uses a contested list of studies to justify canceling hundreds of millions in mRNA vaccine research, drawing sharp pushback from public health experts.

HHS halts mRNA vaccine funding after citing disputed studies

Federal health officials say they are canceling hundreds of millions in mRNA vaccine research, citing an 181-page list of studies they say document harms. Kennedy announced BARDA would stop 22 grants totaling 500 million dollars and shift funding to a whole killed virus vaccine approach. The list includes contributions from critics of Covid-19 interventions and appears linked to a 2024 book. The document was updated last July 1 and features names tied to controversial stances on vaccines and Covid measures.

Experts note that mRNA vaccines achieved broad use during the pandemic and are widely considered safe and effective. The sources and timing of the list have raised questions about how evidence is selected to guide policy. Critics warn the move could slow vaccine innovation and undermine trust in health agencies.

This decision shows politics creeping into science, with policy choices anchored to material that has not undergone broad peer review. Relying on a contested list to justify funding shifts risks normalizing cherry picked evidence in public health decisions. If policy is driven by controversial voices instead of consensus science, credibility with the public could suffer.

Transparency matters. The policy needs clear standards for what counts as credible evidence in funding decisions, and a public accounting of how sources are chosen. Without that, future funding moves may be viewed as political gambits rather than careful risk assessment.

Highlights

The coming days will test whether health policy can separate evidence from expression and maintain public trust.