The US government will halt funding for 22 RNA vaccine development projects. This was announced by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy.
Kennedy, who is known for his anti-vaccine views, announced that the decision to scrap projects worth nearly $500 million was the result of doubts about the effectiveness of RNA technology.
Kennedy: "They do not provide effective protection"
"We reviewed the scientific data, listened to the experts and took action," Kennedy said in a statement. "The data shows that these vaccines do not provide effective protection against upper respiratory infections such as Covid and influenza", he said. "We are prioritizing the development of safer and more comprehensive vaccination strategies", Kennedy added.
This is another blow by US health authorities under Kennedy's leadership against RNA vaccines. In May, the Health Department canceled a contract worth nearly $ 600 million with the pharmaceutical company Moderna to develop a vaccine against bird flu.
RNA vaccines are hope for the treatment of cancer
Experts immediately reacted sharply to Kennedy's statement. "For example, he said that mRNA vaccines are unnecessarily dangerous", noted pediatrician Dr. Paul Offit told CNN. "That's simply not true. In fact, they are extremely safe and effective."
"The decision to cut all of these funds based on false claims is difficult to watch," added the vaccine expert at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a consultant to the Food and Drug Administration.
RNA vaccines were first used during the Covid-19 pandemic by the companies Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. They use messenger RNA (mRNA) to instruct the body to produce an immune response.
Unlike traditional vaccines, which can take years to develop and test, RNA vaccines can be produced within months and can be quickly modified depending on changes and mutations in the virus. RNA technology is currently being used not only for vaccines against infectious diseases. Researchers around the world are studying its use in cancer immunotherapy.
"A huge mistake that will be measured in lives lost"
Kennedy argues that this technology is ineffective and dangerous. Health authorities should focus on other drugs instead. "Let me be absolutely clear: The Department of Health and Human Services supports safe and effective vaccines for every American who wants them," he stressed.
"We are weakening the first line of defense against rapidly spreading pathogens - a huge strategic mistake that will be measured in lives lost during a crisis," said Rick Bright, former director of the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Biomedical Research.
Kennedy, who for years spread conspiracy theories against immunizations, withdrew recommendations for Covid-19 vaccinations after taking office, fired members of the Vaccine Commission and refused to call for mass vaccination against measles amid the rise of smallpox in the United States.