The American Minister of Health Robert Kennedy Jr., during a hearing before a Senate committee in Washington DC, on May 20, 2025 (AFP / Alex Wroblewski)
Donald Trump’s Minister of Health Minister Robert Kennedy Jr. announced on Tuesday that the United States was going to stop funding the development of several Messenger RNA vaccines, promising technology that saved millions of lives during the Cavid-19 pandemic.
“We have examined the scientific data, listened to the experts and we act,” Kennedy said in a statement, announcing the end of 22 investments for a total amount of “around 500 million dollars”.
These funding focused on the development of treatments against avian influenza or porcine flu and were allocated or were being allocated to several big names in the pharmaceutical industry such as Moderna, Pfizer and Sanofi companies.
Messenger RNA vaccines are sources of many hope, especially in the fight against viruses but also against cancer.
“The data show that these vaccines do not effectively protect against higher respiratory tract infections such as covid and flu,” accused the minister, without entering in more detail.
He also questioned their security by announcing to redirect funds to “safer” technologies.
The affected funding is those which were allocated to the powerful American authority responsible for providing the country with the means to face the health crises, the Barda. The funding of other agencies affiliated to the United States Ministry of Health is not affected.
Strongly contested by many experts for his anti -vaccini positions, Robert Kennedy Jr has initiated since his entry into office a deep overhaul of American vaccination policy.
Unquestionable scientific success, Messenger RNA technology played a decisive role during the world pandemic of COVID-19 by allowing high speed development of effective vaccines.
But it was also targeting many disinformation campaigns having fueled the distrust of citizens.