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3w ago

HHS Cuts $500 Million in mRNA Contracts, Redirecting Funds to Broader Vaccine Platforms

Kennedy said data show mRNA vaccines underperform against upper respiratory infections

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks as President Donald Trump listens at an event to promote his proposal to improve Americans' access to their medical records in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
A man casts a shadow as he walks toward the Hubert H. Humphrey Building, headquarters of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 1, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
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US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has overseen a major overhaul of US health policy since taking office

Overview

  • HHS terminated 22 BARDA mRNA vaccine contracts worth about $500 million on August 5, 2025.
  • Kennedy warned that mRNA technology’s mutation-driven “anogenic shift” could prolong pandemics by encouraging new viral variants.
  • The department will reallocate the canceled funds to develop whole-virus vaccines and other mutation-resistant platforms.
  • Some remaining BARDA mRNA projects in late-stage development will be allowed to finish to preserve prior taxpayer investments.
  • NIH’s ongoing mRNA research programs are not affected by the BARDA contract cancellations.